Bernard of Tiron, St., founder of a new congre- gation of Benedictines (q. v.), viz. the Tironensians (q. v.), was born at Ponthieu about A.D. 1040. He was at first abbot of St. Cyprian's, but in 1109 found- ed the abbey of Tiron and the new congregation named from the place. The monks gave themselves to si- lence, manual labor, prayer, and psalmody, and their dress was of the commonest material. Bernard, be- fore long, found himself surrounded by more than five hundred disciples of both sexes. Each one was set to perform whatever art he best excelled in, and thus were found carpenters, smiths, goldsmiths, painters, vine-dressers, agriculturists, writers, men of all call- ings, glad to exercise their talents in obedience to their superior. A noble monastery soon arose in the soli- tude. Congregations were soon established in France, Britain, and elsewhere ; eleven abbeys were founded, subject to the chief of the order at Tiron ; of these eight were in France, one in Wales, in the diocese of St. David's, called the abbey of St. Mary de Cameis, and one in Scotland, at Roxburgh. Bernard died on the 14th of April, 1116. He has not been canonized by the Church, but the Martyrologies of the Benedic- tines and of France mention him on the 14th of April. His life is given in the Acta Sanctorum, April, t. ii. — Baillet, Vies des Saints, 14 Aprilis; Helyot, Ordres Pe- ligieux, iii, 674.
Bernard of Clairvaux, St., one of the most em- inent names in the Mediaeval Church, was born of no- ble parents near Dijon, in the year 1091. He had five brothers and one sister, all of whom he persuaded to the same course of religious life with himself; and, after having lived for some time in seclusion in their father's house, the brothers all left if: together in 111", and repaired to Citeaux, where they demanded of the abbot Stephen to be admitted. Besides his brothers, he took with him other companions, making in all thirty. Having distinguished himself by his piety, devotion, and learning, he was commissioned, in 1114, to conduct a colony of monks to Clairvaux, where, having built their monastery, he was appointed the first abbot. His learning and consummate abilities could not be long concealed in the cloister, and very
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Boon he was called upon to take part in all the impor- tant affairs of the Church. In 1128 he was present in the Synod of Troyes, convoked by the legate Mat- j thew, cardinal bishop of Albano, where, by his means, j the order of the Knights Templars was confirmed, as well as the rule for their observation. In the schism j between Innocent II and Anacletus, Bernard took the side of the former. In 11-10 we find him strenuously opposing Abelard (q. v.), whom, both by word and by his writings, he resisted, especially in the Council of Sens held in that year. His arbitrary and persevering persecution of Abelard is one of the greatest stains upon | his reputation. "About the year 1140, Bernard was | involved in an important controversy concerning what was called the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. Several churches in France began about that time to celebrate the festival consecrated to this pre- tended conception. It is reported by some authors that it had been introduced into the Church of England before this period, in consequence of the exhorta- tions of archbishop Anselm. The Church of Lyons was the first which adopted this new festival in France, which no sooner came to the knowledge of St. Bernard than he severely censured the canons of Lyons on ac- count of this innovation, and opposed the immaculate conception of the Virgin with the greatest vigor, as it supposed her to be honored with a privilege which be- longed to Christ alone. Upon this a warm contest arose, some siding with the canons of Lyons, and adopting the new festival, while others adhered to the more orthodox sentiments of St. Bernard. The con- troversy, notwithstanding the zeal of the contending parties, was carried on during this century with a cer- tain degree of decency and moderation. But in after times, as Mosheim remarks, when the Dominicans were established in the Academy of Paris, the contest was renewed with the greatest vehemence, and the same subject was debated on both sides with the ut- most animosity and contention of mind. The Domin- icans declared for St. Bernard, while the Academy pat- ronized the canons of Lyons, and adopted the new fes- tival." (See Immaculate Conception.) It was in the year 114o that information was received in Europe of the perilous condition of the newly-established king- dom in the Fast. Edessa was taken by the Saracens; Antioch and Jerusalem were threatened. The news excited universal sorrow. Louis the Seventh, king of France, in a penitential spirit, was the first who pre- pared to arm in defence of the Holy Sepulchre. The French king's determination was approved by the pope, Eugenius III; and Bernard was commissioned to travel through France and Germany for the pur- pose of raising an army of crusaders. The success of Bernard was marvellous. The unwilling emperor, Conrad III. yielded at length to his impassioned elo- quence. In his management of Conrad, the tact and good taste of Bernard were conspicuous. It was at Frankfort-on-Maine that he had Ids first private au- dience. Winn the emperor then gave him to under- stand bow little interest he took in the matter, Bernard pressed the subject no farther, but awaited another op- portunity. After having succeeded in making peace between several ofthe princes of the empire, he preach- ed the crusade publicly, exhorting the emperor and princes to participate in it, at the diet held at Christ- mas in the city of Spires. Three days after this he again addressed the emperor in private, and exhorted him, in a friendly and affectionate manner, not to lose the opportunity of so short, R0 easy, and so honorable a mode of penance. ( lonrad. already more favorably disposed to the undertaking, replied that he would ad- vise With his councillors, and give him an answer on the following day. The „ext .lay Bernard officiated at the holy communion, to which be unexpectedly