Bernard of Clairvaux

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (Fontaines, near Dijon, 1090 – August 21, 1153 in Clairvaux) was a French abbot and theologian who was the main voice of conservatism during the intellectual revival of Western Europe called the Renaissance of the 12th century. The voice of conscience, the dominating figure in the Christian church from 1125 to 1153 (Cantor 1993), he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1830. Bernard is a saint of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches and was the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian monastic order.

The contest with Abélard

Clairvaux itself had meanwhile (1135--1136) been transformed outwardly-- in spite of the reluctance of Bernard, who preferred the rough simplicity of the original buildings-- into a more suitable seat for an influence that overshadowed that of Rome itself. How great this influence was is shown by the outcome of Bernard's contest with Pierre Abélard. Bernard was the prosecutor in Abélard's trial for heresy. Bernard had been hostile to the scholars at the University of Paris, the center of the new learning based on Aristotle. Bernard suspected those who learned "merely in order that they might know" for the vanity of a learned reputation. For Bernard of Clairvaux the liberal arts served but a narrow purpose: to prepare the priesthood (Cantor 1993 p 338). In intellectual and dialectical power the abbot was no match for the great schoolman; yet at Sens in 1141 Abelard feared to face him, and when he appealed to Rome Bernard's word was enough to secure his condemnation.

Related Topics:
Pierre Abélard - University of Paris - Liberal arts - Sens

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