Bernard of Clairvaux, Monastic and Theologian, 1153

The Collect:

Rite I:
O God, by whose grace thy servant Bernard of Clairvaux, kindled with the flame of thy love, became a burning and a shining light in thy Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline and walk before thee as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Rite II:
O God, by whose grace your servant Bernard of Clairvaux, kindled with the flame of your love, became a burning and a shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Song of Songs 1:1–8

¹The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. 

² Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine, 
³   your anointing oils are fragrant,
your name is perfume poured out;
   therefore the maidens love you. 
⁴ Draw me after you, let us make haste.
   The king has brought me into his chambers.
We will exult and rejoice in you;
   we will extol your love more than wine;
   rightly do they love you. 

⁵ I am black and beautiful,
   O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
   like the curtains of Solomon. 
⁶ Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
   because the sun has gazed on me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
   they made me keeper of the vineyards,
   but my own vineyard I have not kept! 
⁷ Tell me, you whom my soul loves,
   where you pasture your flock,
   where you make it lie down at noon;
for why should I be like one who is veiled
   beside the flocks of your companions? 

⁸ If you do not know,
   O fairest among women,
follow the tracks of the flock,
   and pasture your kids
   beside the shepherds’ tents.

Psalm: Psalm 139:1–9

¹ Lord, you have searched me out and known me; *
       you know my sitting down and my rising up;
       you discern my thoughts from afar.
² You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
       and are acquainted with all my ways.
³ Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
       but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
⁴ You press upon me behind and before *
       and lay your hand upon me.
⁵ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
       it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
⁶ Where can I go then from your Spirit? *
       where can I flee from your presence?
⁷ If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
       if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
⁸ If I take the wings of the morning *
       and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
⁹ Even there your hand will lead me *
       and your right hand hold me fast.

Second Lesson: Jude 1-3 

¹ Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ:

² May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.

³ Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Gospel: Mark 10:23-31 

²³ Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ ²⁴ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ ²⁶ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’ ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ ²⁹ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

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Sample Text: Today we honor Bernard of Clairvaux, Cistercian abbot, mystic, and preacher, whose writings stirred hearts and rekindled monastic life in medieval Europe. He burned with divine love and clarity of purpose.

“…kindled with the flame of your love, became a burning and a shining light in your church…” #Episcopal

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