St. Bernard is born in Borgogne, France (near Switzerland) in the year 1090. Together with his seven brothers he received an excellent, formation in religion, Latin and literature. For some time his Christian fervor declined and started feeling attracted towards mundane things, his friendships, even when they seemed attractive to him left him a loneliness and weariness feeling.

One Christmas Eve, he felled asleep and he seemed to have seen Child Jesus in Mary’s arms in Bethlehem and that Virgin Mary offered him Her son to love Him and to make others love Him too. Ever since, he decided to consecrate to religion and apostolate. Bernard went into the Benedictine monks convent called Cister.

Bernard told the news to his family and friends but all of them opposed. He talked to them in such a wonderful way about the advantages and qualities of religious life that he managed to take his four older brothers, his uncle and 31 friends to the convent with him. Later, when his mother died, his father entered the monastery. His sister and brother in law also decided to embrace religious life.

During his life he founded more than 300 convents for men, and made many of his disciples to reach sanctity. He was called “the souls and vocations hunter”. With his apostolate he encouraged 900 monks to have a religious profession.

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