Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Memorial of Saint Bernard, abbot and Doctor of the Church

(Ezekiel 28:1-10; Matthew 19;23-30)

Today the Church remembers one of the most influential men of the twelfth century. St. Bernard of Clairvaux not only spear-headed the Cistercian reform movement of monasticism; he also advised popes and kings.  His message was so compelling that it brought together the resources for the second crusade.

By the eleventh century Benedictine monasticism had largely abandoned its founding ideal.  A group of Benedictines founded the monastery at Citeaux, France, to return to manual labor and prayer.  The project floundered until Bernard joined it with thirty companions.  The Cistercians promoted not only manual work but also poverty as Jesus recommends in today’s gospel.  They recognized that riches, like power, tends to corrupt and that Jesus called his followers to a life of simplicity.

Many people today pursue a life of wealth and pleasure.  Not infrequently they lose solidarity with both the poor and the Lord.  We must try to avoid this mortal error.  Living simply in the spirit of St. Bernard, we can find companionship with God and neighbor.

Homilette for Thursday, August 20, 2009

Memorial of St. Bernard, abbot and doctor of the Church

(Judges 11:29-39a; Matthew 22:1-14)

The first reading is so shocking that we cannot help but consider it. There are at least two noteworthy issues here: human sacrifice and virginity. We should comment that God does not suggest human sacrifice in this case; indeed, the Law expressly forbids it. Jephthah seems too proud to admit that he made a foolish vow. We can say as well that Christ has liberated women from the shame that Jephthah’s daughter feels for remaining a virgin, that is, for never giving birth. Since Jesus, a woman’s role in life goes far beyond child-bearing but includes discipleship for the sake of the kingdom.

Other than Jesus himself, no one exemplifies virginity for the sake of the kingdom better than Mary, his mother. When Jesus tells the woman who would bless his mother for having given him birth, he turns the blessing around and praises his mother for having heard the word of God and putting it into practice.

Today we celebrate a great proponent of Marian devotion, Bernard of Clairvaux. He once wrote, “In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary....And to more surely obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps.”