Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard and Dante

Bernard led Dante
to Mary and then to
a vision of God that
united him to “the
Love that moves the
sun and the other
stars.”
Bernard Goes to Clairvaux

Clairvaux was the
first foundation, but
eventually there
were 68 others.
Preaching Crusade in 1146

Bernard’s preaching
a crusade was the
dark spot on his life,
although he tried to
make it a spiritual
event rather than
simply another holy
war.
Interpreting Scripture

The basis of
interpreting scripture
must be the
personal experience
of the love of God.
Only then could
scripture be properly
understood.
The Path of Love

“On the path
leading to God,
the point of
departure is
humility and the
point of
destination is
love.”
Self-Acceptance

If God loves us, then
we can accept
ourselves. In
learning to accept
ourselves as we are,
we also begin to
love others as they
are.
Bernard on Mary

Mary’s consent to
the action of God is
the most excellent
model we have of
what it means to
become a Christian.
Summary

“It does not behoove
thee, O man, to
cross the seas, to
penetrate the
clouds, or to climb
the Alps in search of
God…Seek no
further than thy own
soul; there wilt thou
find thy God!”