St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Life and influence
St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Life and influence
Overview of St. Bernard of Clairvaux's life.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Zatletic/Dreamstime.com
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Transcript
NARRATOR: Bernard of Clairvaux was both a monk and great supporter of the Crusades. The most important writings on him are kept in the safe at the Bibliothèque Municipale in Dijon, France. Many records from Burgundy's monasteries are kept here, but one is particularly astonishing, the life of abbot Bernard of Clairvaux.
PROFESSOR PETER DINZELBACHER: "It's quite unusual, but work on the life story of Bernard had already begun during his lifetime. Saints' lives are usually documented after their death."
NARRATOR: Bernard was born near Dijon, growing up in a castle as the third of seven children. Young Bernard's world was greatly influenced by the ideals of knighthood. In 1096, when Bernard is just six years old, the battle for the Holy Land begins - the First Crusade, aimed at conquering the Holy City of Jerusalem.
Bernard attended school at Châtillon-sur-Seine, a great privilege at the time. Biblical texts were the focus of the curriculum. Pupils were expected to attend mass daily. Austerity and piety were the principles of the school, principles with which Bernard was already familiar, having grown up in a highly devout family. Later, Bernard of Clairvaux continued along this path. In 1113 he becomes a monk and entered the Cistercian order. An enthusiastic monk, he promoted the order's principles and spread them throughout Europe.
DR. THOMAS DENTER: "What did he want to be? First and foremost, he wanted to be a monk. And his life reflected that. He did his best to restore the Rule of St. Benedict in all its rigor, both for himself and the entire Cistercian order."
NARRATOR: Bernard's sermons praised modest art and articulated his disapproval of oversized churches with excessive finery and wealth. The Abbey of Fontenay was, for him, the architectural ideal, a symphony of stone and light.
PROFESSOR PETER EICHER: "That is an art form of its own, of self-denial, then with very few symbols that possess incredible expressiveness. So it is not only disdain for the portrait as such. It is actually asceticism in art as well."
NARRATOR: In 1144, the situation with the First Crusade became critical. Pope Eugene III called on Bernard for help. He was appointed as a military strategist and viewed religious service and military service as equal callings. The reformer became a fanatic.
SALIM ABDULLAH: "Religious motifs were at the forefront for Bernard. He was deeply convinced that Muslims were the children of Satan and that Satan had to be destroyed. And whoever accomplished this and whoever helped would, of course, be granted eternal life and forgiveness for their sins."
NARRATOR: Bernard of Clairvaux emerged as one of the co-initiators of the Second Crusade. He praised the military order, the Knights Templar. In 1174, 20 years after his death, Bernard of Clairvaux was canonized.
PROFESSOR PETER DINZELBACHER: "It's quite unusual, but work on the life story of Bernard had already begun during his lifetime. Saints' lives are usually documented after their death."
NARRATOR: Bernard was born near Dijon, growing up in a castle as the third of seven children. Young Bernard's world was greatly influenced by the ideals of knighthood. In 1096, when Bernard is just six years old, the battle for the Holy Land begins - the First Crusade, aimed at conquering the Holy City of Jerusalem.
Bernard attended school at Châtillon-sur-Seine, a great privilege at the time. Biblical texts were the focus of the curriculum. Pupils were expected to attend mass daily. Austerity and piety were the principles of the school, principles with which Bernard was already familiar, having grown up in a highly devout family. Later, Bernard of Clairvaux continued along this path. In 1113 he becomes a monk and entered the Cistercian order. An enthusiastic monk, he promoted the order's principles and spread them throughout Europe.
DR. THOMAS DENTER: "What did he want to be? First and foremost, he wanted to be a monk. And his life reflected that. He did his best to restore the Rule of St. Benedict in all its rigor, both for himself and the entire Cistercian order."
NARRATOR: Bernard's sermons praised modest art and articulated his disapproval of oversized churches with excessive finery and wealth. The Abbey of Fontenay was, for him, the architectural ideal, a symphony of stone and light.
PROFESSOR PETER EICHER: "That is an art form of its own, of self-denial, then with very few symbols that possess incredible expressiveness. So it is not only disdain for the portrait as such. It is actually asceticism in art as well."
NARRATOR: In 1144, the situation with the First Crusade became critical. Pope Eugene III called on Bernard for help. He was appointed as a military strategist and viewed religious service and military service as equal callings. The reformer became a fanatic.
SALIM ABDULLAH: "Religious motifs were at the forefront for Bernard. He was deeply convinced that Muslims were the children of Satan and that Satan had to be destroyed. And whoever accomplished this and whoever helped would, of course, be granted eternal life and forgiveness for their sins."
NARRATOR: Bernard of Clairvaux emerged as one of the co-initiators of the Second Crusade. He praised the military order, the Knights Templar. In 1174, 20 years after his death, Bernard of Clairvaux was canonized.