Christian History Home > Issue 24 > The Bread of God's Book
The Bread of God's Book
Saint Bernard and Holy Scripture
John Van Engen is a Professor of History in the Medieval Institute at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. | posted 10/01/1989 12:00AM
Everything Bernard of Clairvaux was involved in—promoting the monastic life, preaching crusades, condemning heretics, advising popes, intervening with kings—sounds so fully “medieval” that it seems strange that Protestant pastors of the Reformation era would respond favorably to this zealous 12th century Catholic monk. The reason lies mostly in Bernard’s emphasis on the Bible. From the time of his entrance into the monastic life around 1113 until his death 40 years later, Bernard spent more than half of each waking day reading, singing, and meditating on Holy Scripture.
Life Around the Word
Holy Scripture was the focal point of Bernard’s life. This was not unique to him; he shared this practice with thousands of other devout monks. Bernard belonged to the Cistercians, an order of reformed Benedictine monks dedicated to the restoration of the ancient discipline in complete solitude and isolation. Their lives were devoted to prayer, and they assembled in choir eight times each day. Their ... To view this item, you must be a member of ChristianHistory.net.
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