Tag: Blessed Eugene III

Blessed Eugene III, monk and pope

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.

Blessed Pope Eugene III

episcopal ordination of Blessed EugeneBlessed Pope Eugene III was Pope from 15 February 1145 to his death in 1153. The image here is that of the episcopal consecration of Blessed Eugene.

Eugene was the first Cistercian to become Pope. After he became a Cistercian he took the name of “Bernard” in honor of his friend, Bernard of Clairvaux. Never a shy man and passionate teacher, Saint Bernard wrote De consideratione to instruct him Eugene in papal duties. Father Bernard was appointed abbot of Tre Fontaine in Rome. Following the death of Pope Lucius II (+1145) the cardinals elected Abbot Bernard to be pope, who was not present at the conclave due to not being a cardinal. It is reported that ALL were surprised. He remained a Cistercian monk at heart.

The Dominican St. Antoninus called Pope Eugene “a great pope with great sufferings.” And, St. Bernard of Clairvaux spoke of Pope Eugene in this way: “There is no arrogance or domineering way in him.” Eugene III held synods in northern Europe at Paris, Rheims, and Trier in 1147 and 1149 that were devoted to the reform of clerical life. He also considered and approved the works of Hildegard of Bingen

He was beatified on 28 December 1872 by Pope Pius IX.

Thomas Merton wrote an essay on Blessed Eugene, “Blessed Eugenius III, Abbot of Tre Fountain, Pope,”  Cistercian Studies Quarterly (2009) 44.2: 173-180.

With the Church we pray:

Almighty ever-living God, who chose blessed Eugene III to preside over your whole people and benefit them by word and example, keep safe, we pray, by his intercession, the shepherds of your Church along with the flocks entrusted to their care, and direct them in the way of eternal salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.