St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Abstract

Although there are occasional references which suggest a wider audience, St. Bernard’s sermons were usually delivered to monks. He spoke, therefore, to presumably religiously educated listeners who would have been familiar with his biblical allusions and able to understand his imagery. They would also have appreciated the strong emphasis on humility, for humility was the monastic virtue par excellence. In fact, St. Bernard wrote a commentary, The Steps of Humility. on the twelve degrees of humility mentioned in the Rule of St. Benedict.