Bernard’s Love and Leadership

Longing

This thread traces Bernard’s attempt to unite inward longing for God with demanding leadership in church and public life.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Choosing the Austerity Choosing the Austerity from "Longing". Choosing the Austerity A deliberate renunciation Bernard enters Cîteaux rather than a prestigious monastery and brings friends and relatives with him.

Choosing the Austerity from "Longing". Choosing the Austerity A deliberate renunciation Bernard enters Cîteaux rather than a prestigious monastery and brings friends and relatives with him.

Choosing the Austerity A deliberate renunciation Bernard enters Cîteaux rather than a prestigious monastery and brings friends and relatives with him. The choice places him within a demanding reforming community. A life of discipline His early vocation joins self-denial to an intense search for God.

Building Clairvaux Building Clairvaux from "Longing". Building Clairvaux A new responsibility Bernard is sent to establish Clairvaux Abbey, where he becomes abbot.

Building Clairvaux from "Longing". Building Clairvaux A new responsibility Bernard is sent to establish Clairvaux Abbey, where he becomes abbot.

Building Clairvaux A new responsibility Bernard is sent to establish Clairvaux Abbey, where he becomes abbot. The work requires organization and leadership as well as contemplative discipline. A community takes shape The monastery becomes the setting in which he teaches the spiritual life to other monks.

Love’s Four Degrees Love’s Four Degrees from "Longing". Love’s Four Degrees From need to devotion In On Loving God, Bernard describes a movement from self-love toward love of God for God’s own sake.

Love’s Four Degrees from "Longing". Love’s Four Degrees From need to devotion In On Loving God, Bernard describes a movement from self-love toward love of God for God’s own sake.

Love’s Four Degrees From need to devotion In On Loving God, Bernard describes a movement from self-love toward love of God for God’s own sake. He presents perfect self-offering as a grace, not an achievement. Love made relational The inward journey also prepares a person to love others more purely.

The Mystical Kiss The Mystical Kiss from "Longing". The Mystical Kiss A language of intimacy Bernard interprets the bride’s desired kiss as a meeting of Christ and the longing soul.

The Mystical Kiss from "Longing". The Mystical Kiss A language of intimacy Bernard interprets the bride’s desired kiss as a meeting of Christ and the longing soul.

The Mystical Kiss A language of intimacy Bernard interprets the bride’s desired kiss as a meeting of Christ and the longing soul. The image conveys an encounter that speech cannot fully explain. A path of formation His sequence of feet, hand, and mouth links repentance, guidance, and spiritual intimacy.

The Burden of the World The Burden of the World from "Longing". The Burden of the World Leadership beyond the cloister Bernard advises rulers, intervenes in church disputes, and supports the Second Crusade.

The Burden of the World from "Longing". The Burden of the World Leadership beyond the cloister Bernard advises rulers, intervenes in church disputes, and supports the Second Crusade.

The Burden of the World Leadership beyond the cloister Bernard advises rulers, intervenes in church disputes, and supports the Second Crusade. Public demands repeatedly pull him away from Clairvaux. An uneasy balance His life demonstrates both the power and cost of joining contemplative devotion to public action.

Around 1113

Soon after Bernard’s entry into Cîteaux

During Bernard’s mature teaching years

Around 1135, as the Song sermons begin

During Bernard’s years of public influence