In the eleventh century, The Burgundian house of Cluny, founded by Duke William I of Aquitaine, became the “mother house of the great monastic empire.” (Madigan, 120) The Cluniac order’s mission was to bring back the apostolic community. During this of reform the Cluniac order relied heavily on the New Testament, which brought about a new way of living, as a monk. In the twelfth century, the Cistercian order emerged. During this order, Robert of Molesme led a group of monks to a “new monastery.” These monks still had the same values, but they also aspired to follow the Benedictine Rule to the letter and to live an extremely ascetic lifestyle.

Bernard brings to light the practices of the Cluniac monks that he believes to be corrupt. He calls them out on several things including, how comfortable a life they all live. Bernard makes a point to say that they should be ascetic and live less luxurious lives because they are killing their souls. “It is a cruel mercy that kills the soul while cherishing the body.” (Rosenwein, 297) He goes on to talk about specific things they are indulging in like food, drink, clothing, and adornments. All of these things that Bernard points out are not in line with the simple life laid out in the Benedictine Rule.

Peter the Venerable defended the Cluniac order by expressing how many blessings the Cluniac church has had to its people. He also began to speak of a section in scripture in John 15, he says that, “its monks are the branches which, truly [cling] to the vine.” (Rosenwein, 301) This section of scripture also talks about abiding in Christ because one cannot bear fruit apart from him. This point that Peter is making is that the Cluniac monks are abiding with Christ, and following Jesus’ ways to live.

The Life of Antony told the life of an extremely ascetic monk, whose goal was to live in complete solitude fighting a daily battle against evil for the sake of God. His life story was used by Bernard to make a point that the Cluniac monks had strayed far away from what a monk should be like. Peter also describes a life much like Antony’s when he says that, “[they] have changed secular arrogance and luxury into the humble and poor life of monks.” (Rosenwein, 301) Peter also refers to the daily evils monks of Cluny must fight as “soldiers of Christ.”