Saint Humbeline: from a frivolous life to the Cistercian monastery

While her father and her six brothers gave their lives to God at the abbey of Cîteaux, in Burgundy (France), Humbeline, sister of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, married a lord and led a dissipated and worldly life.

Saint Bernard(1) provoked in her the decisive shock that led to her conversion by refusing to receive her one day when she came to visit him at the monastery with a large, impressive retinue. After these few years of frivolous life, Humbeline followed the example of her brothers and embraced the monastic life by entering the Cistercian female monastery of Jully-les-Nonnains, in Burgundy.

The Cistercians do not canonically belong to the Order of Saint Benedict, but follow its Rule. They also particularly venerate the Virgin Mary. All Cistercian churches are dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption.

The Cistercians understood how the Virgin Mary was a model of openness to the mystery of God, who gives fullness to human life in Christ.

Every evening, all over the world, Cistercian monks and nuns end the day by singing the Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen). Mary is present with us in our "valley of tears" as a "Mother of mercy" who shows us Christ, the Savior of all humankind.

Véronique Benz

(1) Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux (1090–1153), was a Burgundian monk, reformer of Catholic religious life and Marian Doctor of the Church.