St Bernards High School - Bernardian Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

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wee Ss By MD PLO Po rae i i ede ie de te de ie ee de ee ee i — oa - gh th th gh REVEREND ROBERT T. DONAHUE Headmaster at SBHS since 1957

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5 “ ) Mustard Seed... An autumn day of falling leaves and a quiet peace, bro- ken only by the sound of his horse’s hoofs, set Bernard think- ing. He, the third son of the Lord of Fontaines, had yielded to the entreaties of his family to finish his education in Ger- many. Now he was on his way to say goodby to his brothers at the Duke of Burgundy’s camp. But Bernard knew that if his mother were living, she would have encouraged him in his wish to enter the monas- tery of Citeaux, in spite of its poverty. She seemed very close to him now as he rode along. When he entered a little roadside chapel, he struggled and fought with himself. But by the grace of God, Bernard decided that it was to be Cit- eaux, not Germany. The tiny grain of mustard seed was already taking root when Bernard set out for Citeaux, not alone, but with his brothers and friends, about thirty in all. His example brought so great a number that soon a new monastery had to be built. In 1115 Bernard with twelve monks set out to do this. The site chosen was a wild valley. Eventually, after months of great suffering, this waste land was converted into a spot of beauty and fertility, so that it was called Clairvaux, the “val- ley of light.” Even before his death, Bernard saw the marvelous growth of the little grain of mustard seed, for he was not only the ab- bot of Clairvaux, but also the founder of 163 Cistercian mon- asteries. Bernard was truly the ruling figure of the 12th century, unsurpassed as preacher, writer, diplomat, and statesman. He advised and fearlessly rebuked popes and kings, upheld the cause of the poor and the oppressed, and made peace be- tween warring armies. ST. BERNARD Light of the 12th Century

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His Excellency MOST REVEREND BERNARD J. FLANAGAN, D. D. Bishop of Worcester