Saints
Robert, Alberic and Stephen, Cistercian Founders
Solemnity:
Gospel Matthew 4:12-23.
Homily by Fr.
Aelred.
Robert, Alberic, Stephen (A)
1. Today’s Gospel (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time) gives
us an account at the calling of Christ’s first four disciples. They were called
and they immediately followed Jesus, leaving behind nets, boats, and parents.
These are models for disciples of all times. For the genuine disciple does not
merely say. ‘Lord, Lord’, but also does the will of the Father as taught by Jesus.
2. Today we honour these other disciples
who also let all when they heard the call of Christ. Sts Robert, Alberic and
Stephen, the Founders of the Cistercian Order. Monastic history shows that
periodic reforms are normal and necessary. This happened in the French
Benedictine abbey of Molesme in 1098 when Abbot Robert and a group of followers seceded from Molesme.
They were looking to distance themselves from the many entanglements and
comforts of feudal society and live in greater seclusion and poverty. Above all
they were seeking to live according to the Rule of St. Benedict with greater
fidelity, as they had promised when they made their monastic vows. They founded
the new monastery of Citeaux.
3. Pressure was soon put upon Abbot
Robert to return to his former monastery of Molesme. After his departure the
community elected Alberic. Alberic was Abbot for ten years and maintained a
tranquil atmosphere at the new monastery. But the community lived in
considerable material poverty and recruits were slow in coming.
4. After the death of Alberic the monks
elected Stephen Harding, an Englishman, as Abbot. Stephen had many gifts of
scholarship and practical organisation. His engaging personality attracted
numerous disciples. Among them, in 1113, was the future Saint Bernard,
accompanied by a large retinue of relations and friends. The new monastic order
now rapidly expanded throughout Europe and beyond fostering a spiritual renewal
of the Church.
5. This brief sketch of Cistercian
origins shows how three men heard the call of Christ to follow Him in a
particular monastic way of life, in a more intense life of prayer. But it would
be wrong to see monks as having a different aim in life to other Christians. The
aim of all, lay and monastic, is to arrive at that fullness of charity St Paul
speaks of in 1st Corinthians 13, ‘Love is patient’ and so on.
6. Speaking
about this primacy of love, a monk of the Eastern Church gave this advice to
his fellow monks: ‘Console the distressed, and do not make you longing for
prayer a pretext for turning away from anyone who asks for your help, for love
is greater than prayer.’ So the desire for prayer and closer union with
God in our lives should never be used as an excuse to sever contact with those
in need, ‘for love is greater than prayer’.