Living from 1090-1153, Bernard of Clairvaux was a French Cistercian abbot and preacher. Bernard of Fontaines entered monastic life at twenty-two and was abbot of Clairvaux by his mid-twenties. Although his disposition was contemplative, he became the confidant of princes and prelates, traveling throughout Europe soliciting support for the causes he embraced. Arguably the most influential figure in Europe during his lifetime, Bernard led an active life of a sort that he discouraged in monks. Overly conscientious and sometimes blinded by his embrace of a cause, Bernard nonetheless had persuasive power. ...
Understanding Bernard's contribution necessitates recognizing that he was a product of monastic theology and the most distinguished writer representing the monastic experience. Monastic theology, in contrast to the theology of the medieval universities, is more symbolic and poetic, giving less attention to objective analysis and description. ... In this and more, the monastic way has wide appeal among many spiritual seekers today.
Monastic life gives priority to regular pondering of the Word through lectio divina, so Bernard's work is altogether scriptural. His writing is stunningly beautiful -- prose poised at the brink of poetry. And perhaps because his work is grounded in the common life within the monastery, its governing concern is love more than knowledge. Desire is the key to understanding Bernard's spiritual teaching. He traces the origin of desire for God to the human being's creation in the divine image. Humankind is endowed with a capacity for and compatibility with God. Any movement toward God is the result of this gift, and whatever love is experienced is God's gift. A human being is created with an emptiness that can only be filled through an intimate relationship with God.
(Information from MethodX)
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