"The letters of great and good men give us information about them which can be derived from no other source," say Frank Gasquet, one of the organizers of this book. Unlike any other literature, a letter provides us with a window into the soul of its author; it allows us to see the author's personal characteristics, cares, emotions, gifts, and vices. It addition to their great historical importance, the letters of Saint Bernard give us an indicator of St. Bernard's religious and political influence. St. Bernard exchanged letters with men and women of many different statures--his correspondents included monk, deacons, bishops, abbots, kings, holy virgins, countesses, popes, dukes, and duchesses. St. Bernard was always lively in his presentation and pleasant in his tone, even when he was fiercely defending his faith. He frequently incorporated biblical allusions in his writing. He also relied heavily on the trusted teachings of St. Ambrose and St. Augustine, two of his favorite church fathers. There is much truth and warmth to be found in the letters of St. Bernard.Emmalon DavisCCEL Staff WriterThis edition features an artistic cover, a new promotional introduction, an index of scripture references, links for scripture references to the appropriate passages, and a hierarchical table of contents which makes it possible to navigate to any part of the book with a minimum of page turns.
Piety and mysticism of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux as widely known instrumental French monastic reformer and political figure condemned Peter Abélard and rallied support for the second Crusade.
This doctor of the Church, an abbot, primarily built the Cistercian order. After the death of mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order in 1112. Three years later, people sent Bernard found a new house, named Claire Vallée, "of Clairvaux," on 25 June 1115. Bernard preached that the Virgin Mary interceded in an immediate faith.
In 1128, Bernard assisted at the council of Troyes and traced the outlines of the rule of the Knights Templar, who quickly the ideal of Christian nobility.