Peter of Clairvaux

Who they were

Abbot Peter Monoculus, of Clairvaux, was of illustrious descent, but spurned the advantages of his rank to become an humble follower of the Redeemer. His candor and piety endeared him to all men. He was abbot first of Villerri, then of Igny and finally of Clairvaux. Once when he was asked how he contrived to maintain equanimity under all circumstances, he replied: "When I was still a novice, it seemed to me, that a spirit entered within me, leading and directing me like the sheep of Joseph; it enables me to be recollected despite distractions, urges me to prayer when I would attend to other things, and causes me not to notice what I see or hear." He was privileged to see the Blessed Virgin in visions. Once while he was praying in the cathedral of Speier for the remission of faults committed during the journey, she appeared to him and recited the prayer of the Itinerarium: "Almighty, eternal God, have mercy on this Thy servant, and in Thy ineffable goodness forgive what he may have sinned by hearing or seeing any evil thing, through Christ Our Lord." Sickness deprived him of one eye, but he consoled himself with the reflection that he had one enemy less to fear. He died in the year 1186.

The miracles

The source does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.

Why that counted as sanctity

A Benedictine Martyrology (1922) remembers him on 18 May.

The cause