Chronology

Born at the castle of Fontaines-les-Dijon in Burgundy.

Entered the monastery of Citeaux with a group of friends and relatives.

Sent as Abbot to found the monastery of Clairvaux.

Suffered a severe illness, the effects of which were always with him.

During Bernard's abbacy 68 daughter houses founded by Clairvaux.

Severe famine in the district. Bernard writes his first treatise: The Steps of Humility and Pride.

Wrote his treatises On Loving God and Grace and Freechoice.

Schism in the papacy. For eight years Bernard worked and journeyed to heal the schism. The result was a masterpiece of statecraft.

Sent a group of monks to England to found the Abbey of Rievaulx.

Bernard present at Council of Pisa. From this date until his death he worked on the Sermons on the Song of Songs.

Friendship with Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh.

Bernard preached the second Crusade at Vezelay, and defended the Jews. Present at the Diet of Spires.

Home at Clairvaux.

Failure of the Crusade.

Wrote his treatise De Consideratione for the Cistercian Pope Eugene III.

Died at Clairvaux.

Canonised by Pope Alexander III.

£ii2

1118—

$159.

1149tio