Bernard of Clairvaux

Abstract

This project concerns itself with the controversial 12th century saint and abbot, Bernard of Clairvaux, so influential that his contemporaneity has been called ‘The Age of Bernard’. The project bases its method on Gadamer in an attempt to locate the man behind the legend. Working towards this, primary sources have been read, analyzed and contextualized with secondary sources in order to shed light on Bernard as he conducted himself and was seen by his contemporaries. The project concludes that while passing definite judgment on Bernard is impossible due to the limited availability of primary sources, it is possible to produce meaningful theories and interpretations of his letters, miracles and actions as both an abbot and a politician – he truly was a ‘difficult saint’.