Stories & Legends
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St. Bernard Wins His Wager with a Farmer
One time St. Bernard was riding upon an horse through the French countryside when he came upon a peasant farmer. The farmer noted how the Abbot kept his head bent and his eyes lowered and asked the Abbot why he took this position.
The great Cistercien Abbot responded that he had not his heart firm and stable in praying, and that this helped him so as not to be distracted in his prayer. Hearing this the farmer became disdainful and haughtily replied that he himself had his heart firm and stable in all his prayers.
And so St. Bernard, thinking how to best vanquish him and show his folly, said to him:
“Depart a little from me, and begin your Paternoster in the best intent that you can. And if you can finish it without thinking on any other thing, without doubt I shall give to you the horse that I am on. But first you must promise to me on your honor that if you think on any other thing, you shall not hide it from me.“
The peasant, highly pleased, readily agreed, and already reputed the horse as his.
Then he went apart a bit and began his Paternoster. But he had not yet reached even the half mark when a question stole into his heart, whether he should have the saddle with the beast. Perceiving this distraction, he hastened back to St. Bernard and with all honesty admitted that he had thought on something else in the midst of his prayer.
And, after that, he had no more will to berate or criticize the Abbot. Nor did he ween so bravely of himself.
The great Cistercien Abbot responded that he had not his heart firm and stable in praying, and that this helped him so as not to be distracted in his prayer. Hearing this the farmer became disdainful and haughtily replied that he himself had his heart firm and stable in all his prayers.
The pleased peasant was imagining the horse
as already belonging to him
“Depart a little from me, and begin your Paternoster in the best intent that you can. And if you can finish it without thinking on any other thing, without doubt I shall give to you the horse that I am on. But first you must promise to me on your honor that if you think on any other thing, you shall not hide it from me.“
The peasant, highly pleased, readily agreed, and already reputed the horse as his.
Then he went apart a bit and began his Paternoster. But he had not yet reached even the half mark when a question stole into his heart, whether he should have the saddle with the beast. Perceiving this distraction, he hastened back to St. Bernard and with all honesty admitted that he had thought on something else in the midst of his prayer.
And, after that, he had no more will to berate or criticize the Abbot. Nor did he ween so bravely of himself.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Adapted from The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine,
NY: Arno Press, 1969, p 473
Posted August 8, 2026
NY: Arno Press, 1969, p 473
Posted August 8, 2026
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