Nivard, Bl.

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NIVARD, BL.

Cistercian monk; b. Fontaines-les-Dijon, Burgundy, France, c. 1100; d. c. 1150. Nivard was the youngest brother of bernard of clairvaux. Following his brother's example, he joined cÎteaux at an early age and was later transferred to clairvaux. By order of Bernard, he participated in the foundation of a number of new Cistercian monasteries in various capacities; further details of his life, including the date and place of death, are unknown. According to unsubstantiated tradition, he was buried at Clairvaux. His cult can be traced to the 16th century but was restricted to certain Cistercian communities.

Feast: Feb. 7.

Bibliography: g. mÜller, "Der helige Nivard," Cistercienser-Chronik 8 (1896) 4351. s. lenssen, Hagiologiuim cisterciense (Tilburg 194849) 1:188189. w. w. williams, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (Westminster, MD 1952) 484. m. raymond, The Family That Overtook Christ (Boston 1986) 365413.

[l. j. lekai]