St. Bernard of Clairvaux: Oracle of the Twelfth Century

by Théodore Ratisbonne

Abbot; Confessor; Doctor of the Church (1091-1153). In all history no other man so dominated his times and influenced its people. He prophesied; cast out devils; worked miracles; destroyed heresy; single-handedly healed a schism; launched a crusade; advised popes; guided councils (6); ended a pogrom; accomplished every mission given him--yet was always sickly; took no joy in the world or pride in his successes; and ever longed to return to his cell. A story to make you weep. 480 pgs; PB

Genres: Catholic, Biography

Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Marie-Théodor Ratisbonne was a noted Jewish convert to the Catholic Church, who became a priest and missionary and who later founded the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion. He was the brother of Maria Alphonse Ratisbonne, who joined him in this effort.

Reviews

[Mariarosa]

This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. Everybody should read this.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come with this one.

-----------------------

26-08-19

Well here is my short review on this big book. It has begun quite sweet and intimate concerning the life of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. However that soon ended due to the fact the this book is a contextually historic one. The Abbe Theodore takes infinite pains to go into intricate details concerning the historicity surrounding Bernard, or, better yet, the works or state of the church, etc.

However educating this is to the audience readings this humongous book, it is certainly N.O.T informing about Bernard as a person - this book does not really go into the life of Bernard but takes a step back looking at it.

An example will be seen when Bernard is constantly assailed to attend councils of the Church, annoying to Bernard because matters do not leave him as he should be - I.e. a monk in a cloister. So Bernard goes back to the cloister after returning from the council vowing to not do it again. Then the Abbe goes on to say that all is well, everyone is perfectly happy etc. Etc. and the Abbe says this multiple times that everyone is perfectly happy etc etc.

However good this information is, it does not clearly manifest the life Bernard lived. I mean was everything so good and perfect and happy and persevering all the time? What? No spiritual desolation? No trials of temptation? I mean, the blurb does say this book is enough to make a man weep for the amount of the glory of God poured out into one man..... it made me weep the first two chapters. 14 chapters later, I am squirming. This book does not show any of Bernards struggles or increasing to virtue.

So perhaps one can see why one is struggling to see what exactly is going on when the author has taken the initiative not to look into it at all.

This book certainly does examine Bernards works and letters by giving excerpts of them but it does not certainly manifest, demonstrate nor does it provide a proper discourse on the life of Bernard. It goes into too much historical analysis and just goes on and on from that point.

Which brings me to my last point. This book contains a lot of theology. So for one who is already in the field one will understand the complex terminology. But what of those who donot care for it? I donot know ....

So. The sum up. You want a proper accurate educating book that contextually and historically analyses Bernard and his surroundings with all its lookups with theology and philosophy. This is the book for you. But you want a book that informs you concerning the spiritual growth and what made the man holy by examining his life, this is not the book for you. Donot get me wrong. The first two to three chapters where absolutely fantastic concerning Bernard and his family and mother and conversion. But from that point it all comes crashing down.

[Ian Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This biography was well-written and covered much of the life of Bernard. I could tell from the back cover that this would be a hagiography, nevertheless the continuous uncritical praise of the subject led me to lose trust in the biographer. It did not help that no events or quotations had any citations to which I could go for verification. Ratisbonne, like many Christian biographers of previous centuries, was obviously more concerned with edifying the reader than portraying events with critique and precision. This is not necessarily negative--especially seeing how prayerful and pastoral much of his writing was--but it should be known before choosing this biography over another.

[W.F. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The problem with this book, as other reviewers have said, is that it is pure hagiography. The writer, writing in the 19th century puts together the story in an overly dramatic manner.

The book does not take a realistic look at the Saintly Bernard. Some of the first-hand accounts which are quoted in this book are very enjoyable to read. That said the writer does not provide any citations.