It is an especial joy to celebrate the feast of St. Bernard soon after the Assumption for one of his titles to fame is due to the tenderness and piety with which he hymned the glories of Mary in his prayers, sermons and writings. Born in 1090 of a noble Burgundian family, at the age of twenty-two he became a monk at Citeaux, taking with him 30 noblemen whom he had won to Christ. This brought new vitality to the Cistercians, a youthful branch of the ancient Benedictine Order; soon its offshoots covered all Europe. Bernard founded the great abbey of Clairvaux, with which his name is linked and there his 700 monks were able to benefit by the God-given doctrine and wisdom which have made his name immortal. In spite of his monastic austerity St. Bernard was involved in all the great important questions of his time. For the twelfth century he was the lamp spoken of in the Gospel, enlightening his age and giving it its definitively Christian stamp. When a monk, Eugenius III had been his disciple, and on becoming Pope turned to him for counsel.