Geoffrey of Auxerre

Geoffrey of Clairvaux, or Geoffrey of Auxerre, was the secretary and biographer of Bernard of Clairvaux and later abbot of a number of monasteries in the Cistercian tradition. Life He was born between the years 1115 and 1120, at Auxerre. At an early age he entered the ranks of the clergy, and followed for some time the course of lectures given by Abelard. In 1140 Bernard of Clairvaux came to Paris, and before the assembled scholars preached a sermon "De conversione ad clericos", in which he dwelt on the vanities of a life in the world, on the necessity of a sincere conversion, and on the peace to be found in the monastic profession. Geoffrey, with several others, followed St. Bernard and joined the monastic community of Clairvaux.