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Ordre Hospitalier des Chevaliers de Saint Bernard

Congrégation Internationale des Chevaliers de Saint Bernard

Congrégation sous la protection bienveillante de notre Chapelain Général, Monseigneur Jean Marie Gervais Préfet coadjuteur du Chapitre du Vatican ; Commissaire de la Congrégation pour le Clergé Coadjuteur du Chapitre du Vatican, Monseigneur Bogoridi-Liven évêque à Fribourg Allemagne, Don Antonio Pagano aumônier er chapelain du Prieuré d’Ile de France, Don Sorin Benescu aumônier er chapelain du Prieuré de Bucarest, Don Bruno Gonella aumônier er chapelain du Prieuré de Turin, Monseigneur Bustillo évêque et Cardinal de Corse à Ajaccio, Don Roger Pozzi aumônier er chapelain de la commanderie de Bastia, Père Constant aumônier et chapelain de Porto-Vecchio.

Versailles, le 12 juin de l’an de grâce 2024,

The Role of the Hospitaller Order of the Knights of Saint Bernard in the Cistercian Order

Bernard of Clairvaux, whose real name was Jean de Fontaine, the great supporter and protector of the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, was born in 1090 at the Château de Fontaines near Dijon, son of Sorrel Tescelin and Aleth, a noble Burgundian family, who had six other children, only one of whom was a daughter. He became one of the most important religious and ecclesiastical figures of his time.

He lost his mother while studying at the University of Châtillon-sur-Seine. According to researched sources, after this loss Bernard fell into depression, and during a moment of prayer, at around the age of twenty, in 1112, he decided to enter religious life in a Benedictine convent. Almost all of his brothers joined the monastery with him, except for the youngest, Nivard, who remained behind to care for the family lands.

Later, Saint Bernard helped to found the first Cistercian houses, an order that had been established 15 years earlier, but which, only after his entry, was recognized as separate from the Benedictine order.

In 1112, two years after Saint Bernard entered the Cistercian abbey, he was designated to found another convent at Clairvaux, where he was elected abbot. The monastery of Clairvaux became the cradle of major historical changes, since its founder, Saint Bernard, became a model for the attitudes of the clergy and of ethical and religious behavior, rejecting any conduct that did not conform to the Holy Scriptures. He valued austerity and simplicity.

In 1119, Bernard was summoned by Stephen Harding to participate in the Cistercian General Chapter, a milestone in the formative process of the Order of the Temple. The Carta Caritatis, drafted at this chapter, was later confirmed by Pope Callixtus II.

According to researched sources, it was after this event that Bernard began to write his major works, treatises, and homilies. Among these stand out: On the Love of God, his commentary on the Song of Songs, and above all his Apology, written at the request of William of Saint-Thierry, in which he defended the principles observed by the “White” Benedictine monasteries (the Cistercians, so called because of the color of their habit), against the practices of the “Black” Benedictine monasteries (the Cluniacs). The Abbot of Cluny, Peter the Venerable, replied amicably, and despite their ideological confrontations, the two men became friends.

Saint Bernard was a great writer whose works remain timeless and relevant for Christians today. According to tradition, the invocation “O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary” is attributed to him.

Because of his literary contribution, in 1830 he was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius VIII.

Bernard was related to Hugues de Payns and André de Montbard (his uncle), founders of the Order of the Temple. After founding the new order with the approval of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Payns sought official recognition from the Catholic Church and, in 1127, traveled to Rome with a letter from Baldwin II, Regent of Jerusalem, addressed to Abbot Bernard: “I ask you to support the Master of the Order.” Seeing that the new order aligned with his own ideas of sacralizing knighthood—as a way of defending the faith, morality, and the weak, such as the elderly, children, and widows—Bernard received the request enthusiastically and became the main defender of the Templars.

Through his influence, Bernard ensured that the Master of the Order was received by the Pope, and a council was convened in 1128 at Troyes, presided over by the Papal legate, Cardinal Matthew of Albano.

Summoned by the Pope, Bernard participated in this council where, despite opposition from part of the clergy who resented the presence of a monk, he was appointed secretary of the Council. During the Council of Troyes, Saint Bernard set out the principles and first duties of the new Order of the Temple. Even when questions arose, he responded with wisdom and prudence. After weeks of deliberation, the Order was approved, and it was determined that Bernard of Clairvaux should draft an original Rule for the Knights of the Temple. Although they already followed the Rule of Saint Augustine and Saint Benedict, Bernard considered that his protégés should have their own.

The new monastic Rule, once approved, set out the principles and duties of the Order of the Temple. It quickly became the Christian world’s ideal of nobility. The knights were to observe vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and to devote themselves to defending and guarding the Holy Places, even at the cost of their lives if necessary. This Rule was preserved mainly at the highest level of the Order, to safeguard it if it ever fell into the wrong hands.

Saint Bernard supported Hugues de Payns in recruiting new members, drafted the statutes of the Order, and as already noted, secured the papal convocation of the Council of Troyes for its approval and recognition. His influence made him a highly respected figure in Christianity, intervening in public affairs and defending the rights of the Church against secular princes, counseling popes and kings. Some even claimed Bernard chose the popes. His influence was so great that, after the death of Pope Honorius II in 1130, during the schism of Antipope Anacletus II, Bernard’s voice prevailed, leading to the recognition of Innocent II.

Despite this great power, Saint Bernard lived an austere and simple life, a fact confirmed by Pope Innocent II during his visit to the monastery in 1131. The Pope remained there until the following year before returning to Italy with Bernard, who accompanied him in order to take part in the Council of Pisa. Before returning to Clairvaux, Bernard passed through Milan, furthering his religious mission.

In 1145, Pope Eugenius III, a Cistercian monk from Clairvaux, asked Saint Bernard to preach a new crusade after the Christian kingdom of Edessa fell in danger. Although the crusade ultimately failed, Saint Bernard’s influence endured, particularly in strengthening the Knights Templar and expanding the Cistercian Order. Bernard even secured a pledge from the Templars to protect the Cistercians by oath.

For many scholars, the courage and resilience of the Templars stemmed from Bernard’s influence, for just as he used his charisma to attract followers to monastic life, he instilled in the Templar knights a fearless acceptance of death. Bernard presented death not as defeat but as victory, for to die in battle was to become a martyr. Enemies thus knew they faced not ordinary warriors but disciplined, trained, focused knights without fear of death. Saint Bernard gave the Templars courage, discipline, organization, privileges, and respect.

Saint Bernard declared: “A Knight of the Temple is truly fearless, secure on every side; his soul is protected by the armor of faith, just as his body is protected by the armor of steel. Thus he is doubly armed, and need fear neither demons nor men.”

He obtained for the Order of the Temple privileges that neither kings nor other religious orders enjoyed, thanks to his immense prestige and influence—among them exemption from paying tribute and obedience only to the Pope. He became known as the great organizer and propagandist of the most famous military order of the West, the Order of the Knights of the Temple.

As defender of the Knights of the Temple, Bernard founded 72 monasteries across Europe: 35 in France, 14 in Spain, 10 in England and Ireland, 6 in Flanders, 4 in Italy, 4 in Denmark, 2 in Sweden, and 1 in Hungary, with many others later affiliating themselves to the Knights of the Temple.

These monasteries welcomed more than 700 monks, and many candidates were turned away due to lack of space. Bernard died on August 20, 1153, at the Abbey of Clairvaux, aged 63, after forty years of monastic life. He was canonized by Alexander III in 1174. He left behind his legacy and the monastic Rule of the Templar Order, demonstrating his crucial role in shaping it. His feast day is celebrated on August 20.

As an ecclesiastic, Saint Bernard was never himself a Templar, just as Richard the Lionheart, Saint Louis, and many others were not soldier-monks but crusaders, adhering rather to the Rule of Saint Benedict and the great Cistercian principles for Christians as set forth by Saint Bernard.

Because of his relevance, in 2005 a lay Cistercian religious Order was formed and formally registered in 2012. By its vocation and hospitaller mission, the Hospitaller Order of the Knights of Saint Bernard is not a military Templar Order but purely hospitaller, restoring to Bernard the noble heritage of the Poor Knights of the Temple through a new initiatic path inspired by Godfrey of Bouillon in service to the Christian world.

The purpose of the Order today is to remain faithful to the humanistic values promoted by its Founders since its creation, working on history and philosophy within its Commanderies for their development. The Hospitaller Order of the Knights of Saint Bernard – International Congregation of the Knights of Saint Bernard aims to support, nationally and internationally, the social and societal responsibility of the Founder of the Cistercian Order, in service of the common good, in France, Corsica, Italy, Romania, Spain, Macedonia, and soon in Togo, Madagascar, and Cameroon, by accompanying initiatives in the social economy, fostering cohesion, solidarity, and lasting employment, as well as the renovation and construction of hospitals, and the acquisition of movable or immovable property for its social purposes or for its museum.

The Hospitaller Order of the Knights of Saint Bernard – International Congregation of the Knights of Saint Bernard also commits itself to advocacy and defense of Christian interests: the fight against hunger, environmental protection, sustainable development, and responsible consumption.

Actions include: combating hunger; humanist and humanitarian initiatives; fighting illiteracy in Francophone schools; educational programs for responsible consumption; construction of multidisciplinary hospitals; restoration of places of worship and calvaries; aid to the poor; assistance to homes for autistic children; environmental protection projects; support and aid to Christians of the East; and relief for victims of natural disasters.

As a Cistercian lay oblate, I wish to draw closer to a French Cistercian institution in order to deepen the vows I have made at the Vatican and to offer the possibility of ordination, as desired by my brothers.

S.E. Alain Ménard Comte de Beaurand
Eques Nyctalus
Cistercian Lay Oblate
Grand Prior General

ohcsb-cicsb@outlook.com

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