The Family that Overtook Christ

The Saga of Citeaux #2

by M. Raymond

The Family that Overtook Christ. He was called the man of his age, the voice of his century. His influence towered above that of his contemporaries, and his sanctity moved God Himself. Men flocked to him­—some in wonder, others in curiosity, but all drawn by the magnetism of his spiritual gianthood.

Bernard of Clairvaux—who or what fashioned him to be suitable for his role of counseling Popes, healing schisms, battling errors and filling the world with holy religious and profound spiritual doctrine? Undoubtedly, Bernard is the product of God's grace. But it is hard to say whether this grace is more evident in Bernard himself or in the extraordinary family in which God chose to situate this dynamic personality.

This book is the fascinating account of a family that took seriously the challenge to follow Christ… and to overtake Him. With warmth and realism, Venerable Tescelin, Blesseds Alice, Guy, Gerard, Humbeline, Andrew, Bartholomew, Nivard and St. Bernard step off these pages with the engaging naturalness that attracts imitation. Here is a book that makes centuries disappear, as each member of this unique family becomes an inspiration in our own quest of overtaking Christ.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Spirituality, Theology

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Fr. Mary Raymond Flanagan, O.C.S.O.

Born Joseph David Flanagan in 1903, he grew up in Massachusetts. He joined the Jesuits in 1920, teaching at Holy Cross College from 1927 to 1930 and later serving as retreat master. In 1936, he joined the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists) at the cloister of the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemane in Kentucky where he received the name he is most know by today, Fr. Mary Raymond. He wrote twenty-two books as a Trappist, many dealing with the subject of how the laity could achieve sanctity.

Reviews

[Andres Mosquera Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

La familia que alcanzó a Cristo

Ésta es la historia de la familia de San Bernardo de Clairvaux, el hombre más influyente de su tiempo a mi parecer. El libro cuenta cómo cada uno de los miembros de la familia alcanzó la Santidad, y cómo cada uno de ellos influyó en el otro para lograr ese tan preciado anhelo de encuentro cara a cara con Dios: la vida eterna.

Lo que más me gusta de este libro es que exhorta a todos a ser santos, rompe el paradigma de que sólo los consagrados pueden serlo. El ejemplo del Venerable Tescelin y la Beata Alice de Montbar, padres de Bernardo, es perfecto. Ellos se santificaron viviendo el día a día, siendo lo que Dios quería que ellos sean: formadores de nuevos santos (sus hijos).

El libro narra de manera muy sintetizada la vida de cada uno de estos personajes, tan distintos pero parecidos a la vez -en su santidad-. Los personajes son:

LOS PADRES:
Venerable Tescelin
Beata Alice

LOS HERMANOS MAYORES:
Beato Guy
Beato Gerardo

SAN BERNARDO



LOS HERMANOS PEQUEÑOS:
Beata Humbelina
Beato Andrés
Beato Bartolomé
Beato Nivardo

Como podemos ver, Tescelin, Alice y sus siete hijos alcanzaron a Cristo. ¡Qué familia! Este libro nos exhorta a ser santos desde cualquiera que sea nuestra vocación, a ser desprendidos (ésta fue la clave para que los hijos logren ser monjes) y, sobretodo, a enamorarnos de Cristo.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. From the way it was written to the inspiring conversations that went on between these saints. This is one of those books I have wanted to read for a long time, but kept putting it off. I am so happy I have it, was able to read it and get so much from it. Saint Bernard, Blessed Humbeline and Blessed Alice, the whole family. Wonderful inspirations! Some of the pages in this book light fires in the soul.

[Christina Burt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still don’t know how I feel about St. Bernard. He’s so intense and probably rubs be the wrong way because he’s right about a lot of things. I don’t think we’ll be BFFs but I would like to explore more of his writings. His family is remarkable and radical and it is clear that the Church needed a family like theirs at that time. I love his mother the most.

[Amy Gieser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Similar to the first on writing style. This book follows St Bernard and each of his family members separately in their own chapters but yet still combined- done really well I thought in the layout. Because each chapter begins a new character it is easy to put it down for awhile in between. Because this is a religious theme you can’t expect to have the romance, suspense or intrigue of a regular fictional book and be reading at a furious pace to find out what happens. But there is interest in reading about real life people and how they lived out this reform so extraordinarily. The fact that it is put into story form makes it much more enjoyable than just biographies. Some characters are harder to understand or some are more likeable. Overall I truly enjoyed the book and looking forward to the next.

[Joan23GU · Rating 3 out of 5]

A veces, por la manía de novelar las biografías, trabajos históricos (y, en este caso, hagiográficos) bastante buenos acaban convertidos en obras literarias más bien pobres. Los diálogos son muy poco naturales, y cuesta seguir la cronología, debido en parte a la narración no lineal, así como a la escazes de fechas y edades.

Eso sí, gran familia los de Fontaines, y necesitamos un san Bernardo para nuestros tiempos.

[Joza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. Not just Bernard, but the whole family is very holy. It's amazing how Bernard could convince all those noble's and nights to come and join a small order in the middle of nowhere. I don't even know where to start. I just loved this book and think everyone should read it.

[Laura Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es... Una cosa impresionante. Definitivamente la introducción del libro le hace justicia. A pesar de describir la santidad de una familia, está repleto de verdadera humanidad. No queda otra conclusión que ser plenamente santo es ser plenamente humano.
Con cada uno de los miembros de la familia de fontaines iba viendo cómo me hablaba Dios respecto a situaciones de mi vida. Fue bellísimo.
Lo volveré a leer pronto porque con cada palabra se encendía mi corazón.

[Randy Shed Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A must read

This book is absolutely phenomenal. For any family or anyone discerning religious life, this book will change your life. May we all strive to overtake Christ

[Juan Pascual de la Llana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiradores relatos sobre las vidas de San Bernardo de Claraval y todos sus familiares que elevan el alma y animan a pensar que la santidad es posible si nos entregamos sin reservas a Dios.

[Rocio Dariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sin duda un libro que me hizo enamorarme de cada personaje, y aprender más sobre el porqué fuimos creados y como podemos amar a Dios, lo volvería a leer sin dudar.

[Victor Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una lectura enriquecedora y sobre todo que contextualiza muy bien cada miembro de esta familia que alcanzó a Dios en esta vida y esperamos sea unos grandes Santos en la presencia de Dios

[Mary Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspirational
learned so much
borrowed from St Katherine's

[Susana Monedero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro denso de leer pero al mismo tiempo emocionante. En ocasiones pienso que aquella época tenía algo difícil de recuperar.

[Trini Urrutigoity · Rating 5 out of 5]

me ayudó muchísimo con mi crecimiento espiritual y personal, fue un libro que definitivamente me marcó

[Ashley Strukel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One time through isn't enough to take in all this book has to offer. So much great stuff to ponder. I'll be starting it over again soon.

[Laura Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una gran novela histórica, que te traslada profundamente a una época dónde la santidad era habitual.

[Fr. Daniel Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The initial chapter of this book lays out a story in which a nun criticizes many of the books about saints for making them to be more than human. The author then explains that he hopes to avoid this common mistake. I personally believe that he did an excellent job and that this book shares both the human traits as well as the graces from God in the lives of Bernard of Clairvaux and his parents, brothers, and sister.

I enjoyed the storytelling method of portraying the characters in this family. The short stories often involved members of the family interacting naturally with each other at critical moments in their life, but it also included conversations of others about the families. They not only explained the events that happened to and around these holy men and women, but also captured their saintly traits in doing so. Each section about the different saints talked about the entire family so that you learn about each person throughout the book. You cannot simply the one chapter about one of the members of the family and learn everything the author wants to convey.

Additionally, many of the stories include moral lessons akin to a homily. I wonder if these are messages conveyed originally by these holy people or if the author is attempting to convey the attraction and purpose of contemplative life. Either way, it was inspiring and made me contemplate my life and how much I am willing to sacrifice for Christ.

As a whole, I think that this style works well when trying to convey the essence of sainthood in people without ignoring the importance of historical events and relationships. I do wonder how much of the encounters are based on fact and how much is dramatized or exaggerated, but I come away knowing much about Clairvaux and this wonderful family.

[Nes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of the family of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux [France:] where all the members - both parents as well as all seven siblings - became saints. The book is written in a style that's both friendly and intense, conveying the feeling that while aspiring and working to become a saint is no easy ride, God does not make it difficult, nor does he place a lot of obstacles.

You can feel that it is an interplay [or interactive, as we say it in the modern language:] between you and God, wherein the more He sees evidence of your intense desire to please Him and do His will, the more He keeps re-arranging series of events in your life in order for you to make it to the finish line.

Also, since English is not my native language, but have been exposed to it since I was young and have been a perennial student of it, I also take note of the literary writing style, at times poetic, yet always keen about historical accuracy. I plan to adopt some of the phrases and expressions that I find in it.

[Lilibeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for the first time over 10 years ago. Set me on fire for my faith. It's not perfect by any means but is much healthier and better done than most, if not all, Saint books. If you struggle with faith-based scrupulosity (sort of like faith OCD) then you may find this remarkably helpful, or at least not harmful like other Saint books can be.

Saints were human beings like all of us. They argued and fought, but they also performed miracles. Some Saints receive a title, most of us don't. And that's okay. Because there's sanctity and imperfection on both sides of the coin.

To paraphrase Padre Pio, "Everyone has the wounds of the Stigmata. Mine, for some strange reason are visible. You've got them, too. I can see them."

[Les Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read (on Kindle) a great book by the late Cistercian, Fr M Raymond OCSO, "The Family that Overtook Christ". It's the story of St Bernard of Clairvaux and his amazing family. Very inspiring! Fr Raymond really knows how to dramatise a story and hold your interest, all the while teaching and motivating. I think I'll read it again before long...so many great teachings and sayings of Bernard. A couple of notes: "You ask me with what measure God is to be loved, and I answer: Without measure...sine modo...what a great motto! And again, "meditation and prayer are the 2 feet we all need...meditation teaches us what is lacking...prayer obtains for us the supply (of it)"

[Amber Vanderpol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, I forced myself to read it in small chunks so I could enjoy it more and get more out of it. I love how the author used a variety of writing techniques to tell the story too - dialogue between family members, between observers, third person narrative... all used very effectively. I also enjoyed how the author told the story of the whole family, person by person, but without becoming repetitive. An amazing story about an amazing family, and written so well - what a great combination!

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...inspirational and informative. The narrative was exquisite and appropriate for todays church. Highly recommended for those who stuggle today with the church's modernistic stance on many issues.

[Philip Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that does engage and inspire. I particularly been inspired by Part 4 "Younger Members" The Man who kept the gate - Blessed Andrew. When All the Glamour is Gone - a touching but inspiring of letting oneself be emptied, become nothingness for God's Kingdom.

[Anne Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read. Fun, honest, and inspiring. It really challenges one to consider how much they are willing to give to God. I am looking forward to rereading because there is so much wisdom in the stories.

[Mark Holencik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sequel to "The Three Religious Rebels".

[M Laabs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent !