(gouache painting) (link)

Feast Day · August 20

Bernard of Clairvaux

Patron ofBeekeepers, Candle Makers, Cistercians, Gibraltar

SituationsDevotion to Mary, Mystical Prayer, Temptation

ProfessionsBeekeepers, Candle Makers

Why this patronage

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux is the patron of beekeepers and candle makers because of the title posterity gave him: Doctor Mellifluus, the “honey-sweet doctor,” so called for the surpassing sweetness of his sermons and writings on the love of God. Where words flow like honey, the bee and its wax follow, and so the keepers of hives and the makers of candles took the honeyed doctor as their own. He is naturally the patron of the Cistercians, whose order he carried to greatness from his abbey of Clairvaux, and of those who seek mystical prayer and devotion to Our Lady, of whom he was among the Church’s most ardent singers. He is also honored as a patron of Gibraltar, whose feast falls on his day.

Life

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was a French Cistercian monk and Doctor of the Church who lived from 1090 to 1153. He founded the monastery of Clairvaux and was one of the most influential figures of the 12th century, preaching the Second Crusade and advising popes and kings. Known as the “Honey-Tongued Doctor” for his eloquent writings on the love of God.

Prayer

The Memorare (Memorare)

Memoráre, o piíssima Virgo María,

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

Gedenke, o gütigste Jungfrau Maria,

Acordaos, oh piadosísima Virgen María,

Souvenez-vous, ô très miséricordieuse Vierge Marie,

non esse audítum a saéculo,

that never was it known

es ist noch nie gehört worden,

que jamás se ha oído decir

qu'on n'a jamais entendu dire

quemquam ad tua curréntem praesídia,

that anyone who fled to your protection,

dass jemand, der zu deinem Schutz floh,

que ninguno de los que han acudido a vuestra protección,

que quiconque ait eu recours à votre protection,

tua implorántem auxília,

implored your help,

deine Hilfe anrief,

implorado vuestro auxilio

imploré votre assistance

tua peténtem suffrágia,

or sought your intercession,

um deine Fürbitte bat,

y reclamado vuestro socorro,

ou réclamé votre secours,

esse derelíctum.

was left unaided.

von dir verlassen worden sei.

haya sido abandonado de vos.

ait été abandonné.

Ego tali animátus confidéntia,

Inspired by this confidence,

Von solchem Vertrauen beseelt,

Animado con esta confianza,

Animé d'une pareille confiance,

ad te, Virgo Vírginum, Mater, curro,

I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.

nehme ich meine Zuflucht zu dir,

a vos acudo, oh Virgen de las vírgenes, Madre mía;

je viens à vous, ô Vierge des vierges, ma Mère ;

ad te vénio, coram te gemens peccátor assísto.

To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

o Jungfrau der Jungfrauen, meine Mutter.

a vos vengo, ante vos me presento, gimiendo pecador.

à vous je viens, devant vous je me tiens, pécheur gémissant.

Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despícere;

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions;

Verwirf meine Bitten nicht,

No desechéis mis súplicas,

Ne rejetez pas mes prières,

sed áudi propítia et exáudi.

but in your mercy hear and answer me.

sondern höre sie gnädig an und erhöre sie.

sino escuchadlas y acogedlas benignamente.

mais écoutez-les favorablement et daignez les exaucer.

Amen.

Amén.

Amen.

— Attributed to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, 12th century