St. Bernard (20 August): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Discover the extraordinary life of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot, Doctor of the Church, Cistercian reformer, preacher, mystic, and one of the most influential Catholic saints of the Middle Ages. Born into Burgundian nobility, Bernard abandoned the opportunities of the world to enter the austere Cistercian life. His example was so powerful that members of his own family and dozens of noblemen followed him into the monastery. He later founded Clairvaux, which became one of the great centers of Catholic monasticism. In this complete life from Butler’s Lives of the Saints, we explore St. Bernard’s prayer, penance, humility, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, miracles, defense of Catholic doctrine, opposition to schism, influence upon popes and kings, role in the Second Crusade, and extraordinary spiritual writings. Bernard taught that true wisdom begins with knowledge of ourselves before God. His life shows that holiness is built through prayer, humility, sacrifice, contemplation, and complete confidence in Divine Mercy. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for us! 0:17 Early Life of St. Bernard 1:15 Bernard’s Education & Virtue 1:55 Vision of the Infant Jesus 3:15 Entering the World After His Mother’s Death 3:56 Bernard Battles Temptation 4:24 His Decision to Enter the Cistercians 4:54 Bernard Converts His Family & Friends 6:26 His Younger Brother’s Remarkable Response 6:57 30 Noblemen Enter With Bernard 7:28 Beginning the Monastic Life 10:20 Prayer, Scripture & Contemplation 11:28 Bernard’s Extraordinary Austerity 13:31 Bernard Becomes Abbot 13:55 Founding the Monastery at Clairvaux 15:14 Clairvaux Grows to 130 Monks 18:04 Miracles of St. Bernard 19:08 The Famous Excommunication of the Flies 19:33 His Preaching Converts Noblemen 21:03 Bernard Refuses Ecclesiastical Honors 22:01 His Confidence in Christ’s Precious Blood 23:21 St. Bernard on True Humility 27:57 Prayer, Solitude & the Spiritual Life 30:05 His Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary 31:03 Bernard’s Influence Throughout the Church 34:00 The Papal Schism Begins 34:39 Bernard Defends Pope Innocent II 37:46 Confronting the Duke of Aquitaine 39:31 Bernard Confronts Him With the Blessed Sacrament 43:36 The Schism Comes to an End 44:00 Defending Catholic Doctrine 44:09 St. Bernard vs. Peter Abelard 49:25 Defending the Doctrine of God 53:23 Learning, Libraries & Cistercian Monasteries 53:56 The Astonishing Growth of Clairvaux 58:17 Bernard’s Monk Becomes Pope Eugene III 58:48 Spiritual Advice for the Pope 1:01:41 St. Bernard & the Second Crusade 1:06:27 The Failure of the Crusade 1:07:32 Preaching, Conversions & Miracles 1:10:00 Bernard’s Sanctity as His Greatest Miracle 1:11:49 The Final Illness of St. Bernard 1:14:43 Death of St. Bernard 1:15:07 His Legacy as Doctor of the Church 1:16:36 The Foundation of His Spiritual Life 1:17:48 Self-Knowledge, Prayer & Divine Grace 1:19:09 The Road to True Humility https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/august/st-bernard/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StBernardOfClairvaux #CatholicSaints #SaintOfTheDay #CatholicChurch #CatholicHistory #DoctorOfTheChurch #Cistercians #CatholicFaith #Catholicism #ChurchHistory #MarianDevotion #Humility #Prayer #LivesOfTheSaints #TraditionalCatholic