Memoria of St. Bernard, Abbot & Doctor of the Church (Feastday August 20)

Introduction to Lauds.
“For Sion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest” In this phrase taken from the Canticle (Isaiah 61), we can see the prophet’s eagerness and anticipation in restoring the holy city.
 
Likewise we can see the same sentiments in the life of St. Bernard whose memorial we celebrate today. He was very much concern for the happenings of the church even though living an austere monastic life. He exposed the fallacies, which exalted human reason and rationalism and thus restored peace and unity in churches which have been divided. During the 2nd crusade, when Jerusalem and Antioch were threatened he went to preach the crusade.
 
We pray that we will be like St. Bernard, standing up to our faith and defending the church and it’s teachings in the midst of all kinds of scandal and happenings around the world.  

As a community, having so much love for the church, we pray…