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Stephen Harding

Stephen Harding (French: Étienne Harding) (c. 1060 – 28 March 1134) was an English-born monk and abbot, who was one of the founders of the Cistercian Order. He is honored as a saint in the Catholic Church.


Stephen Harding

Saint Stephen Harding fresco in Apátistvánfalva, Hungary
Bornc. 1050
Sherborne, Dorset, Kingdom of England
Died28 March 1134(1134-03-28) (aged 83–84)
Cîteaux Abbey, Duchy of Burgundy
Venerated inCatholic Church (Cistercian Order)
Feast26 January (Solemnity of the Founders of Citeaux)
AttributesDressed in the Cistercian cowl, with miniature church model, holding abbot's crozier, holding the Carta Caritatis ("Charter of Charity"), a founding document for the Cistercian Order

Early life edit

Stephen was born in south-west England and, as a youth, spent time at the Sherborne Abbey in Dorset. He then travelled to Scotland and France. Afterward, Stephen went on a pilgrimage to Rome. Back in France, Stephen joined a monastery at Molesme, Burgundy region.[1][2]

Founding the Cistercian Order edit

In 1098, Stephen, along with Robert and Alberic, left Molesme and founded a new monastery in Cîteaux, France. Robert became the first abbot. After Robert was ordered back to Molesme by Pope Urban II, Alberic became abbot and served for nine years until his death.[1][2]

 
Bernard and Stephen






Stephen, therefore, became the third abbot of Cîteaux. At first, under his administration, there was hardship, especially regarding the attainment of new members. Eventually, Bernard of Clairvaux entered the community, bringing with him thirty companions.[1]

With Stephen and Bernard spearheading the Order, many new Cistercian monasteries were founded.[1] In 1119, Stephen received official approbation for the Carta Caritatis (Charter of Charity), an important document for the Cistercian Order, establishing its unifying principles.[3] Many of his policies and decisions were influenced from his time with the Vallombrosians.[4][5]

Stephen Harding served as abbot of Cîteaux for twenty-three years.[1] While no single person is considered the founder of the Cistercian Order, the shape of Cistercian thought and its rapid growth in the 12th century were certainly due in some part to Harding's leadership.[6] Insisting on simplicity in all aspects of monastic life, Stephen encouraged the severity of Cistercian architecture and the simple beauty of the Order's liturgy and music.[7] He was an accomplished scribe; one of his greatest achievements is considered to be the Harding Bible.[8][2] In 1133, he resigned as abbot because of poor eyesight.[9] He died on 28 March 1134.[9]

Legacy edit

Veneration for Stephen began in the modern era. His feast was celebrated on 28 March until 1683 and then moved to 17 April, where it remained until the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council, when it was moved back to 28 March.[10] In a joint commemoration with Robert of Molesme and Alberic, the first two abbots of Cîteaux, the Cistercians and Benedictines today celebrate Stephen Harding's feast day on 26 January.[11][12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Burns, Paul (2003). Butler's Lives of the Saints. Minnesota, US: Liturgical Press. pp. 140–141. ISBN 0-8146-2903-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Saint Stephen Harding | Biography & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  3. ^ The Cambridge companion to the Cistercian order. Mette Birkedal Bruun. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2013. ISBN 978-1-107-00131-2. OCLC 795645066.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ Duvernay, Roger (1952). "Cîteaux, Vallumbreuse et Étienne Harding". Analecta Cisterciensia (in French). 8. Rome: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana: 379–495. hdl:2027/mdp.39015024591888. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via HathiTrust.
  5. ^ Lekai, Louis J. (1969). "Motives and Ideals of the Eleventh-Century Monastic Renewal". Cistercian Studies Quarterly. 4: 3–20. Retrieved 21 November 2021 – via German National Library.
  6. ^ Feiss, Hugh (2009). "Book review of Stercal (2008)". American Benedictine Review. 60 (2): 216–218.
  7. ^ "Saint Stephen Harding | St Thomas & St Stephen". www.ss-thomas-stephen.org.uk. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Manuscript Miniatures: Bible of Stephen Harding". manuscriptminiatures.com. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b Huddleston, Gilbert. "St. Stephen Harding." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912.  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ Martyrologium Romanum (in Latin) (2 ed.). Administrationem Patrimonii Sedis Apostolicae in Civitate Vaticana. 2004. p. 208.
  11. ^ "Jan 26 – Solemnity of the Founders of Citeaux – New Melleray". Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  12. ^ Proper Masses for the Use of the Benedictine Confederation. Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press. 1975. p. 9.

  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Stephen Harding". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Bibliography edit

  • Claudio Stercal, Stephen Harding: A Biographical Sketch and Texts (Trappist, Kentucky: Cistercian Publications, 2008) (Cistercian Studies Series, 226).

stephen, harding, other, people, named, disambiguation, french, Étienne, harding, 1060, march, 1134, english, born, monk, abbot, founders, cistercian, order, honored, saint, catholic, church, sainto, cistsaint, fresco, apátistvánfalva, hungarybornc, 1050, sher. For other people named Stephen Harding see Stephen Harding disambiguation Stephen Harding French Etienne Harding c 1060 28 March 1134 was an English born monk and abbot who was one of the founders of the Cistercian Order He is honored as a saint in the Catholic Church SaintStephen HardingO CistSaint Stephen Harding fresco in Apatistvanfalva HungaryBornc 1050 Sherborne Dorset Kingdom of EnglandDied28 March 1134 1134 03 28 aged 83 84 Citeaux Abbey Duchy of BurgundyVenerated inCatholic Church Cistercian Order Feast26 January Solemnity of the Founders of Citeaux AttributesDressed in the Cistercian cowl with miniature church model holding abbot s crozier holding the Carta Caritatis Charter of Charity a founding document for the Cistercian Order Contents 1 Early life 2 Founding the Cistercian Order 3 Legacy 4 References 5 BibliographyEarly life editStephen was born in south west England and as a youth spent time at the Sherborne Abbey in Dorset He then travelled to Scotland and France Afterward Stephen went on a pilgrimage to Rome Back in France Stephen joined a monastery at Molesme Burgundy region 1 2 Founding the Cistercian Order editIn 1098 Stephen along with Robert and Alberic left Molesme and founded a new monastery in Citeaux France Robert became the first abbot After Robert was ordered back to Molesme by Pope Urban II Alberic became abbot and served for nine years until his death 1 2 nbsp Bernard and StephenStephen therefore became the third abbot of Citeaux At first under his administration there was hardship especially regarding the attainment of new members Eventually Bernard of Clairvaux entered the community bringing with him thirty companions 1 With Stephen and Bernard spearheading the Order many new Cistercian monasteries were founded 1 In 1119 Stephen received official approbation for the Carta Caritatis Charter of Charity an important document for the Cistercian Order establishing its unifying principles 3 Many of his policies and decisions were influenced from his time with the Vallombrosians 4 5 Stephen Harding served as abbot of Citeaux for twenty three years 1 While no single person is considered the founder of the Cistercian Order the shape of Cistercian thought and its rapid growth in the 12th century were certainly due in some part to Harding s leadership 6 Insisting on simplicity in all aspects of monastic life Stephen encouraged the severity of Cistercian architecture and the simple beauty of the Order s liturgy and music 7 He was an accomplished scribe one of his greatest achievements is considered to be the Harding Bible 8 2 In 1133 he resigned as abbot because of poor eyesight 9 He died on 28 March 1134 9 Legacy editVeneration for Stephen began in the modern era His feast was celebrated on 28 March until 1683 and then moved to 17 April where it remained until the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council when it was moved back to 28 March 10 In a joint commemoration with Robert of Molesme and Alberic the first two abbots of Citeaux the Cistercians and Benedictines today celebrate Stephen Harding s feast day on 26 January 11 12 References edit a b c d e Burns Paul 2003 Butler s Lives of the Saints Minnesota US Liturgical Press pp 140 141 ISBN 0 8146 2903 2 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint date and year link a b c Saint Stephen Harding Biography amp Facts Britannica www britannica com 24 March 2024 Retrieved 28 March 2024 The Cambridge companion to the Cistercian order Mette Birkedal Bruun Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2013 ISBN 978 1 107 00131 2 OCLC 795645066 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Duvernay Roger 1952 Citeaux Vallumbreuse et Etienne Harding Analecta Cisterciensia in French 8 Rome Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana 379 495 hdl 2027 mdp 39015024591888 Retrieved 21 November 2021 via HathiTrust Lekai Louis J 1969 Motives and Ideals of the Eleventh Century Monastic Renewal Cistercian Studies Quarterly 4 3 20 Retrieved 21 November 2021 via German National Library Feiss Hugh 2009 Book review of Stercal 2008 American Benedictine Review 60 2 216 218 Saint Stephen Harding St Thomas amp St Stephen www ss thomas stephen org uk 30 September 2011 Retrieved 30 May 2017 Manuscript Miniatures Bible of Stephen Harding manuscriptminiatures com Retrieved 21 November 2021 a b Huddleston Gilbert St Stephen Harding The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 14 New York Robert Appleton Company 1912 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Martyrologium Romanum in Latin 2 ed Administrationem Patrimonii Sedis Apostolicae in Civitate Vaticana 2004 p 208 Jan 26 Solemnity of the Founders of Citeaux New Melleray Retrieved 19 September 2022 Proper Masses for the Use of the Benedictine Confederation Collegeville Minnesota The Liturgical Press 1975 p 9 nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 St Stephen Harding Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Catholicism nbsp Saints nbsp EnglandBibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Stephen Harding Claudio Stercal Stephen Harding A Biographical Sketch and Texts Trappist Kentucky Cistercian Publications 2008 Cistercian Studies Series 226 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephen Harding amp oldid 1216717153, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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