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St. Bernard of Clairvaux | pre-1955 Missal | Latin Mass Readings | 8/20/2026 · Vox Liturgica

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  Vox Liturgica: The propers of the day according to the Roman Missal before 1955. The feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and doctor, August 20 in the year of our Lord 2026. Of today's feast, Dom Gaspar Lefevre writes the following: The Church is pleased to honor during the Octave of the Assumption, Saint Bernard, the honey mouthed doctor, Doctor. Melifluous, whose principal title of glory is to have celebrated with ineffable tenderness and ardent piety in his prayers, his books and sermons, the varied greatness of Mary. Born in October of a noble Burgundian family, he succeeded at the age of 22 in winning over to Christ 30 noblemen who with him embraced monastic life at Citeaux.
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  There the Cistercian order, a branch of the old Benedictine trunk, acquired a new vigor which enabled it to cover the whole of Europe with its shoots. The just, says the offertory, shall flourish like the palm tree. He shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus. And in the famous monastery which Bernard founded a short time afterwards in the Vale Of Wormwood on the left bank of the Obbe and whose first abbot he became. He each day lavished on a community of 700 monks the treasures of doctrine and wisdom with which God endowed him and which make his name immortal.
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  An austere monk, a great Christian orator and a learned doctor, he was the luminary mentioned in the Gospel which enlightened the world in the twelfth century and impressed upon it the Christian character which distinguishes it. Pope Eugenius III who had been trained by him to the monastic life, solicited and received his counsels. At the Council of Eitan he put an end to the schism which, opposing Anacletus to Innocent II troubled the clergy and the people of Rome. He was consulted by William of Aquitaine, by the Duchess of Lorraine, by the Countess of Brittany, by Henry, son of the king of France, by Peter, son of the king of Portugal, by Louis the sixth, Louis the seventh, Conrad, Lothair, and by the Abbot of Saint Denis. He silenced the famous doctor Abelard at the Council of Lawn and his powerful logic unmasked the errors of Arnold of Brescia and of Peter de Bruise.
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  And lastly he attacked Islam and by preaching the second crusade at Vezelay he stirred up the whole of Europe by his overpowering eloquence. Saint Bernard died at Clairvaux on 08/20/1153 and his body was laid at the foot of the altar of the Virgin. He left after him 160 monasteries which he had founded in Europe and Asia. His writings replete with doctrines inspired by divine wisdom caused him to be placed among the doctors of the church by Pius VIII. Let us have recourse to the intercession in heaven of the one who on earth taught us the way of life.
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  Let us ask him to give us his love for the mother of God and let us piously recite the anthem of the season, Salve Regina, of which the three last invocations, O Clement, O Merciful, O Sweet Virgin Mary are attributed to him. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The Introit. In the midst of the church, he opened his mouth, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding.
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  He clothed him with a robe of glory. Sweet it is to praise the Lord, to sing most high God in honor of thy name. Glory be to the father and to the son and to the holy ghost as it was in the beginning is now and will be through all ages of ages. Amen. In the midst of the church he opened his mouth and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding.
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  He clothed him with a robe of glory. The Collect. Let us pray. O God, who didst give blessed Bernard to thy people as a minister of eternal salvation, grant we beseech thee that we who have had him for our teacher on earth may deserve to have him for our advocate in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages.
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  Amen. A commemoration of the octave of the assumption. Forgive, we beseech thee, O Lord, the sins of thy servants. And may we, who are unable to please thee by our deeds, be saved by the intercession of the mother of thy son, our Lord, who with thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost. God through all ages of ages.
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  Amen. A lesson from the wisdom of Sirach. With dedicated heart, he will keep early vigil at the Lord's gates, the Lord that made him, to win audience for his plea from the Most High. His lips will be eloquent in prayer as he entreats pardon for his sins. At the Lord's sovereign pleasure, he will be filled with a spirit of discernment so that he pours out showers of wise words, giving thanks to the Lord in his prayer.
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  His plans and thoughts guided from above he will have skill in the divine mysteries will make known to all the tradition of doctrine he has received and take pride in the law which is the Lord's covenant with man. This wisdom of his extolled on every side will never fall into oblivion. The memory of him, the renown of him will be held in honor from age to age. His wise words will become a legend among the nations. Where faithful men assemble his praise will be told.
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  The gradual. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak judgment. The law of God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted. Alleluia. Alleluia.
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  The Lord loved him and adorned him. He clothed him with a robe of glory. Hallelujah. A continuation of the holy gospel according to Matthew. At that time, Jesus said to his disciples, you are the salt of the earth.
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  But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.
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  Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and so teaches men shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but he that shall do them and teach them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. The offertory.
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  The just man shall flourish like the palm tree. He shall grow to greatness like the cedars of Lebanon. The secret. May the loving prayers of Saint Bernard, thy abbot and doctor, be not wanting to us, O Lord, to commend our gifts and ever obtain for us your pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages.
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  Amen. A commemoration of the octave of the assumption. May the prayer of the mother of God come to the aid of thy people, O Lord. And although we know that she has passed from this life to fulfill the conditions of our mortality, nevertheless may we experience her intercession for us in the glory of heaven through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen.
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  The preface of Our Lady. It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, everlasting God, and that we should praise and bless and proclaim thee in the assumption of blessed Mary ever Virgin, who also conceived thine only begotten son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost and the glory of her virginity still abiding gave forth to the world the everlasting light Jesus Christ our Lord. Through whom the angels praise thy majesty, the dominions worship it, and the power stand in all. The heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat thee that thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with humble praise, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, the heavens and the earth are full of thy glory.
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  Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The communion. He is a faithful and wise servant whom the Lord setteth over his family to give them their measure of wheat in due season.
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  The post communion. Let us pray. That thy sacrifices may give us health, O Lord. May blessed Bernard, abbot and illustrious doctor, we beseech thee act as our intercessor through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen.
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  A commemoration of the Octave of the Assumption. Having been made partakers of thy heavenly banquet, we implore thy mercy, O Lord our God, that we who celebrate the assumption of the mother of God may by her intercession be delivered from all the evils that threaten us through the same Jesus Christ, thy son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy ghost. Amen.
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  Saint Bernard, pray for us. Our lady assumed into heaven, pray for us.