Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Our Lady

As we wind down our Thanksgiving celebrations, and enter into Advent, I am thinking about the considerations of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux regarding Our Lady, Mary the Mother of God.  Bernard’s thoughts on Our Lady might help us prepare our hearts to receive Christ.

I’m thinking of St. Bernard because this past summer, I was invited to a parish in Dallas to preach a nine-day novena. This novena led up to the solemnity of the parish patron, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, on August 20.

As I read and researched, I was struck by Bernard’s love for Our Lady. In fact, Saint Bernard is sometimes called “Mary’s Troubadour,” that is, the poet who sings Mary’s praises.

Mary as Model of Virtue

In one of his sermons, Bernard notes why Mary is so filled with virtue. The saints united their minds and wills to God, and that’s the way they got close to God. But, as Bernard says, “If God is thus present with all the saints, He is especially so with Our Lady, with whom He was so closely united as to have not only one will, but one flesh, for from His own Divine nature and from her virginal substance one Christ was made, Who, sharing both natures, was at once the Son of God and Son of the Virgin Mary” [pg.51].

In another homily, considering all the different virtues, Bernard argues: “In which of these qualities is not Mary wonderful? In which is she not pre-eminent? In which not unique? I shall be very much surprised if, in balancing them, one against the other, you are not puzzled to determine which is the most worthy of admiration, whether you should feel greater wonder at the fruitfulness of the virgin than at the integrity of the mother; at her exaltation in her Son, or at her humility in the midst of such glory. But undoubtedly all these, taken together, are more marvelous than any one of them; and it is an incomparably better and happier lot to have received the whole of them than some without the others. And what matter for surprise is it that God, Who is said and Who is seen to be ‘wonderful in His saints,’ has shown Himself still more wonderful in His Mother?” [pg. 13].

Mary as Mother of Mercy

God has shown Himself wonderful in His Mother. Pius XII declares that he “can think of no better way to conclude this Encyclical Letter than in the words of the ‘Doctor Mellifluus’ to invite all to be more and more devout to the loving Mother of God, and each in his respective state in life to strive to imitate her exalted virtues” [par. 32].

Saint Bernard was captivated by the mercy Our Lady shows us. In one of his  homilies (Sermons for the Autumn Season, pgs. 39-40) , Bernard says that when we praise Mary’s other virtues, we delight with Her for her sake, but, when we praise her mercy, we delight in ourselves for our sake, because it benefits us so much.

The Sermon

This is how Bernard praises Our Lady:

“Your mercy tastes sweeter to the miserable, and we embrace your mercy with more affection, reflect on it more often, and invoke it more frequently. For it is your mercy that gained a cure for the whole world and obtained salvation for all….  Who … can search out the length and breadth of your mercy, O blessed woman, or its height or depth? Its length is such that it comes to the aid of all who call upon it up until the last day. Its breadth fills the terrestrial sphere, so that the whole earth is full of your mercy. Its height is such that it contrives to bring about the renewal of the heavenly city. And its depth gains redemption for those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. It is through you that heaven is filled, hell is emptied, the ruins of the heavenly Jerusalem are rebuilt, and life that has been lost is given to those who wait in misery. So powerful and holy is your love, affectionately compassionate and overflowing in affectionate aid, equally rich in one as in the other. Let our thirsty soul, therefore, hasten to the fountain; let our misery with all earnestness run to this mound of mercy.”

To end that homily, Bernard turns to beg Our Lady, the Mother of Mercy to intercede for us at the Throne of the Almighty Father: “See now, O blessed Virgin, whatever prayers we have been capable of we have launched to you, who have ascended to your son, and we follow, at least at a distance. May your piety, you who found favor with God, be known to the world; may it through your holy prayers obtain pardon for the guilty, health for the sick, strength for the fainthearted, consolation for the afflicted, and help and deliverance in danger.”

Mary as Star of the Sea

One of the Marian titles that St. Bernard loves with a particular devotion is Stella Maris or “Star of the Sea.” The title Star of the Sea is thought to have originated with Saint Jerome, so maybe 500 years or so before Saint Bernard.

One tradition claims that while explaining the etymology of the name Mary, Eusebius suggested it meant drop of the sea, which Jerome translated as stilla maris. (It was mis-copied at some point as stella maris.) Others say Jerome himself interpreted Mary’s name as Star of the Sea. Regardless of how the name came about, it was already a popular invocation in the 8^th century, since the hymn Ave Maris Stella dates from then.

Like Saint Jerome, Saint Bernard finds that Our Lady’s name could be understood or translated as Star of the Sea.

Bernard’s Homily

However, what is particularly beautiful is the interpretation he gives to that name; in a famous homily he says:

“We will dwell a while on this name, which is, rightly interpreted, ” Star of the Sea,” and is therefore admirably appropriate to the Virgin Mother. Fitly is she compared to a star, which, in giving forth its light, suffers no waning, since she brought forth her Son without stain to her virginity. As the ray of the star lessens not its brightness, so the Son of Mary detracted in no way from her integrity. She is therefore that glorious star which arose from Jacob, and which cast its radiance over the whole world — the star whose splendour rejoices heaven, terrifies hell, and sheds its mild and beneficent influence on the poor exiles of earth.  She is truly the Star which, being placed over this world’s tempestuous sea, shines forth by the lustre of her merits and example” [pg.46-47].

It is the continuation and conclusion of that famous homily that Pope Pius XII said (par. 31) was “a page in praise of Mary than which there is perhaps none more beautiful, more moving, more apt to excite love for her, more useful to stir devotion and to inspire imitation of her virtuous example.”

Pope Benedict on Bernard

Likewise, on multiple occasions Pope Benedict XVI made reference to the same discourse. As Benedict writes, “In one of his famous discourses, Saint Bernard compares Mary to the Star that navigators seek so as not to lose their course…”

And in a later address he writes at the end:

“In the words of Saint Bernard, I invite everyone to become a trusting child before Mary, even as the Son of God did. Saint Bernard says, and we say with him: “Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination.”

The Sermon

A translation of St. Bernard’s sermon that this paraphrase is taken from is here:

“O you whoever you are who feel that in the tidal wave of this world you are nearer to being tossed about among the squalls and gales than treading on dry land: if you do not want to founder in the tempest do not avert your eyes from the brightness of this star.

“When the wind of temptation blows up within you when you strike upon the rock of tribulation gaze up at this star call out to Mary.  Whether you are being tossed about by the waves of pride or ambition or slander or jealousy gaze up at this star call out to Mary.

“When rage or greed or fleshly desires are battering the skiff of your soul gaze up at Mary. When the immensity of your sins weighs you down and you are bewildered by the loathsomeness of your conscience when the terrifying thought of judgment appalls you and you begin to founder in the gulf of sadness and despair think of Mary.

“In dangers, in hardships, in every doubt think of Mary, call out to Mary. Keep her in your mouth, keep her in your heart.  Follow the example of her life and you will obtain the favor of her prayer.

“Following her you will never go astray.  Asking her help you will never despair. Keeping her in your thoughts you will never wander away.  With your hand in hers you will never stumble.  With her protecting you, you will not be afraid. With her leading you, you will never tire.

“Her kindness will see you through to the end.  Then you will know by your experience how true it is that the Virgin’s name was Mary.”

Conclusion

In his encyclical, Pius XII wrote that Bernard certainly loved Jesus Christ, and, precisely because he loved Jesus Christ, Bernard loved Our Lady, the Mother of Jesus Christ. The Pontiff writes:  “To this warm love of Jesus Christ was joined a most sweet and tender devotion towards His glorious Mother, whose motherly love he repaid with the affection of a child, and whom he jealously honored. So great was his confidence in her most powerful intercession, that he did not hesitate to write: ‘It is the will of God that we should have nothing which has not passed through the hands of Mary.’ Likewise: ‘Such is the will of God, Who would have us obtain everything through the hands of Mary’” [par. 30].