Religious Education 

St Bernard's Day

About St Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Bernard of Clairvaux was born in 1090 in France. His parents were very well respected, and they were known for their belief in God. He had six brothers and sisters.

When Bernard was nine years old, his parents sent him away to school. There, he found a love for books, and he devoted himself to studying it so he could understand the Scriptures better. He developed a love of Mary, Jesus’ mother and he became known for his reverence.

When Bernard was nineteen years old, his mother died. He was worried he might lose his faith and become greedy, so he began to consider a religious vocation. 

At age twenty-two, he felt God calling him to become a monk at a place called Citeaux. He persuaded thirty other men (including some of his brothers) to become monks too.

After taking his vows, Bernard’s teachers saw that he had made great progress in the spiritual life. So they sent him with twelve other monks to start a new monastery. This new monastery would become the well-known Abbey of Clairvaux.

Bernard was made the leader of this monastery. When he started his work there, he became ill because he and the other monks had so little to live off. But he soon made great progress, as the monastery’s reputation for holiness quickly brought one hundred and thirty new men to join, including his father and his brothers.

Father in heaven,

We thank you for giving us the opportunity to gather together as a school community to celebrate the life of St Bernard, and our lives at St Bernard’s.

St Bernard is known for saying “Love Serves”; we pray that we can live this motto in our everyday lives, by doing the small acts of love, in the loving of our families, our friends and the people around us, to continue to make our school the welcoming and loving place that it is.

We ask this, through your son, Jesus Christ.

All: Amen