If you're someone who scoffs at miracles, prepare to have your skepticism shaken. Let's travel back to the medieval period, specifically to a small town where Saint Bernard of Clairvaux left an indelible mark by curing a cripple. Picture this: A 12th-century monk, revered as one of the most influential religious figures of his time, performing a miraculous healing that still echoes through the annals of history. Bernard, who was born in 1090 in Burgundy, France, was a monk and abbot known for founding the Cistercian order of Clairvaux, which revolutionized monastic life. The story goes that he managed to restore mobility to a man who had been crippled for years during one of his famous sermons across Europe. This remarkable event is said to have taken place as Bernard's reputation for his passionate sermons and commitment to the faith had drawn large crowds.
But why should we care about a miracle that took place nine centuries ago? Because it still resonates today in a world that often dismisses faith and tradition in favor of the contemporary and convenient. Some people, no matter their supposed enlightenment, can't seem to grasp the significance of a miracle because it doesn't fit into the neat parameters of modern science. Yet, it's this very miracle that inspired countless pilgrimages to Clairvaux Abbey and bolstered the faith of thousands, if not millions, during times that were admittedly more difficult than today.
Oh, the irony! Those who eagerly wave their flags for progress and enlightenment often forget that understanding the past enriches our view of the present. It is such miracles—feats that defy the nihilistic tendency to chalk everything up to 'coincidence'—that hold society's spiritual fabric together, challenging the common narrative.
As we recount this miracle of the cripple, we can't ignore Saint Bernard's formidable role in shaping Western civilization. He was a theological heavyweight who wasn’t just a healer but a reformer who played a pivotal role in the revival of Benedictine rule, thereby impacting the Catholic Church deeply. His ability to persuade large swaths of Europe to join the Second Crusade shows his remarkable influence during turbulent times.
Imagine a society that didn't have the kind of leaders that Bernard represented. A society without faith would become unmoored, decentralized, chasing hollow dreams of so-called 'progress' without a solid moral or spiritual base. This miracle didn’t just heal a single man but served as a beacon guiding countless others toward a more structured and reflective life. For those who argue this event is myth or legend, I ask: How do you explain his sudden mobility? Was it adrenaline? Mass hysteria? Or perhaps, it's just what it was—a miraculous event that defies secular skepticism and bears witness to a higher power.
Bernard's miracle ties into another essential element often neglected today: community. At a time when tribalism seems to be making a comeback under the guise of 'identity politics,' it's enriching to remember how spiritual leaders like Bernard built genuine communities. They did so not by promoting endless division and grievances, but through a faith that unified and transcended the mundane realities of life.
In a rapidly secularizing world, especially within Western countries, spiritual works and miracles are dismissed more than ever as archaic superstitions. There's a hubris, a modern arrogance, that thinks it knows better. And yet, for every additional piece of scientific evidence presented against such miracles, there lies a gaping existential void in society that refuses to be filled by mere data or reasoning.
Saint Bernard’s miracle, while an ancient tale, is a psychological balm for today’s spiritually desolate culture. It challenges the modern orthodoxy that sees faith as interchangeable at best and irrelevant at worst. Bernard of Clairvaux didn’t just cure a cripple; he healed a community’s collective spirit, proving that when we add faith into the equation, the results can be awe-inspiring. Modernity might dismiss it, but history has given us a resounding testament of faith and resilience through his deeds.