- Feb 5, 2002
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Today is August 20, the memorial of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church.
We read in the psalm at today’s Mass, “Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you conferred upon him. You made him a blessing forever, you gladdened him with the joy of your face” (Ps 21:5).
The psalmist’s words today call to mind the one who most perfectly saw “the joy of your face” — the Blessed Virgin Mary. Imagine her joy in gazing on the face of her Son, her Savior. That joy is the inheritance of every disciple who loves him.
When I was growing up, I learned to love the Memorare, a prayer often linked to St. Bernard but in fact popularized later by a French priest named Claude Bernard. Still, it captures well the Marian devotion that today’s saint embodied. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church and towering figure of Cistercian reform, had a deep love for Mary and taught that in all things, we should turn to her.
He writes, “In dangers, in distress, in uncertainty, think of Mary, call upon Mary. She never leaves your lips, she never departs from your heart; and so that you may obtain the help of her prayers, never forget the example of her life. If you follow her, you cannot falter; if you pray to her, you cannot despair; if you think of her, you cannot err. If she sustains you, you will not stumble; if she protects you, you have nothing to fear; if she guides you, you will never flag; if she is favourable to you, you will attain your goal.”
Continued below.
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We read in the psalm at today’s Mass, “Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendor you conferred upon him. You made him a blessing forever, you gladdened him with the joy of your face” (Ps 21:5).
The psalmist’s words today call to mind the one who most perfectly saw “the joy of your face” — the Blessed Virgin Mary. Imagine her joy in gazing on the face of her Son, her Savior. That joy is the inheritance of every disciple who loves him.
When I was growing up, I learned to love the Memorare, a prayer often linked to St. Bernard but in fact popularized later by a French priest named Claude Bernard. Still, it captures well the Marian devotion that today’s saint embodied. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church and towering figure of Cistercian reform, had a deep love for Mary and taught that in all things, we should turn to her.
He writes, “In dangers, in distress, in uncertainty, think of Mary, call upon Mary. She never leaves your lips, she never departs from your heart; and so that you may obtain the help of her prayers, never forget the example of her life. If you follow her, you cannot falter; if you pray to her, you cannot despair; if you think of her, you cannot err. If she sustains you, you will not stumble; if she protects you, you have nothing to fear; if she guides you, you will never flag; if she is favourable to you, you will attain your goal.”
Continued below.
Led by Mary to Christ
On St. Bernard’s memorial, we’re reminded that devotion to Mary is a lifeline — one that leads us to the joy of Christ’s face.
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