On the liturgical calendar of the Cistercian Order is the memory of Blessed Eugene III, a Cistercian monk and pope.
Blessed Eugene III OCist, was the Roman Pontiff from February 15, 1145 until July 8, 1153. Born in Montemagno, near Pisa, Italy, to a rich Christian family, belonging to Italian nobility, named after Pier Bernardo Pignatelli, the future Pope Eugene III was ordained priest in the city of Pisa. Biographers tell us he was intelligent, but reserved and very thoughtful. In 1135, he entered the Cistercian Order and enjoyed friendship with St Bernard of Clairvaux. He was appointed by his superior to open another monastery of the Order in the city of Farfa in the Diocese of Viterbo, where he was named an abbot by Pope Innocent II. In 1145, Bernardo Pignatelli was elected Pope and adopted the name Eugene III. He was the 167th pope. By his intercession, let us follow the path of fidelity to Christ and his Church. As pope Eugene took the reform of the Church seriously. The importance of this feast for us is the attending to the need to remain to Christ, the Gospel and the Church.