Rebecca Naomi Jones

William Bernardo

In the year 1112 he entered the Cistercian Monastery, being accompanied by a group of noble followers that would reach the thirty, as well as his four elder brothers and his uncle (such as William of Saint-Thierry would indicate in his life of Saint Bernard and Jacobo de la Voragine in the Golden legend). It is not surprising then, that the Abbot of then, Esteban Harding, avail them to all with great joy, intuiting that this was an accession en masse to his monastery. Shortly thereafter, his younger brother Nirvardo would enter in order and, on the death of his mother, would also his father and his sister Humbelina along with his brother-in-law. This gives us an idea of the power of influence Bernardo on more friends, which resulted in a high degree of adherence to his person, as he left demonstrated six months before entering the Cistercian along with their followers, who maintained located next to him during several weeks, time invested in getting the fidelity personal of all his companions, even subjecting them to all kinds of tests that demonstrate his loyalty to his person and not the order which were to belong, since all this was carried out six months before entering the convent of the Cistercian. This situation makes us think that perhaps Bernardo already had a target set before entering the order, because that was accompanied by the right people to achieve their goal. When we look at the history and see behavior that took in the years following entry into the Cistercian order, carrying out various activities secret, both inside, and outside the order, seems doubt dissipates. As was to be expected, the massive arrival of the clan of the Fontaine (the family and friends of Bernard) would be conflictive to Abbot Esteban Harding, since the excessive influence of the Fontaine was well known in the community, who joined it were most in the monastery of the Cistercian order, already When entered Bernardo and his, just had a handful of monks, it would cause a situation that would spark the inevitable. You may wish to learn more. If so, General Hospital is the place to go.

But the solution came shortly afterwards, through the generosity of count Hugo I de Champana, who was going to play a very important role in the foundation of the new order of the Templar Knights. Count Hugo I, donated land owned in Clairvaux, location near Dijon, North of Lyon, that Bernardo could establish his own monastery there. This is how from then, Bernardo de Fontaine, will be known as the famous Bernardo de Claraval (of Clairvaux). Three years after the entry of Bernardo de Claraval (1115) Cistercian order had only four abbeys, however, upon the death of Bernardo de Claraval in 1153, these four abbeys became more than 350, of which 69 was affiliates direct of Clairvaux, directly founded by Bernardo and raised with the help of relatives and friends of the nobility. The order of the Cistercians were It characterized by the continuous construction of temples and monasteries dedicated to our Lady by almost all over Europe, as well as singing the Salve Regina to the terminate the day, as it was mandatory in order. This situation made that the church saw Bernardo de Claraval as the initiator and promoter official of the cult to Maria, although some authors saw in this worship Mary a very different from the apparent advocation, since not refer Maria the Virgin, but Maria Magdalena.