Saint Bernard must have been a very pious young man. In 1113 he and a group of 30 noblemen showed up at the Cîteaux Abbey following the rule of Saint Benedict. On June 25th 1115 left that abbey with twelve other monks to establish a new abbey in the French Diocese of Langres in France. The area was called Clairvaux. The Clairvaux abbey had a slow start but eventually flourished. Saint Bernard established other abbeys and was responsible for sending monks to countries like England , Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Portugal and Italy.
Sirach 15:3 She will feed him with the bread of learning, and give him the water of understanding to drink. Saint Bernard’s classic education and level headedness cause him to be appointed secretary of the Council of Troyes where he established the rule of the Knights Templar.
He participated in many more councils and support the Papacy of Innocent II over the claims of the antipope Anacletus. He is the patron of beekeepers, candle makers and the Crosier.
He also had great failures. He preached the Second Crusade which ended in failure. He later reflected that the Kings in the field did not communicate which ended in disaster.
God does not always guarantee we will succeed. He just wants us to be faithful and give our best effort.
In our Gospel today Jesus prays ” Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in through their word, so that they may all be one , as you, Father , are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us that the world may believe that you sent me.
If we are to learn and fed by scripture we have to speak that word to the world and by that by our actions they will know that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are in us. We have to preach, and live this Gospel to our family, friends and the world. That way they also may be in us and the world may believe that you sent me (that means you and me).
As we go about our day may the world know that Christ is in us by our words and actions.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS Please pray for Paul, Kathryn, and Anna who have cancer
