St Bernard

The following poem/words/reflection are inspired by the Feast of St Bernard, Abbot and saint of the church. Happy feast day to all Bernard’s! Prayers for Fr Bernard who lives here at Holy Family and prayers for the archbishop of our diocese today, his Grace, Bernard Longley

St Bernard

Called to service, to duty,

blest with wisdom and great foresight.

Sent to cultivate those weeds

at the “Valley of Wormwood”

transforming them into

the Green shoots

of order, of beauty

into a true “Valley of Light!”

His mission.

life’s work and vision

became

a clear view,

at home in

the monastery

of Clairvaux.

This faithful

“chaplain of Mary”

champion

of her maternal companionship

her loving friendship,

devoted to

God’s gentle Mother,

instructing others

in her protection,

granted in sweet devotion,

overflowing with emotion,

she will take you by the hand

and lead you to the Christ,

where each expectant heart

discovers that the

reason for loving God

is God himself…

The measure is

to love God

beyond measure…

Lessons gratefully learnt

a precious gift, the best of life’s treasure.

Fra Bernard

heard

a divine

whisper.

While

searching

for breath.

St Bernard

fanned

this divine

spark

that waits

to ignite

in a faithful soul,

through sacrament,

through encounter.

Holiness

weaving

though his life’s

tapestry.

His monastic

Corpus

engaged

the sacred,

where he daily

discovered

Christ’s presence

in adopting a listening stance

knelt in prayer

grounded in humility!

Ora pro nobis

dear Saint,

blest Reformer,

Abbot Bernard, interceding for the church for all eternity.

Fr Patrick Brennan 2020 ©