In 1146, however, he was converted from his life as a very wealthy "secular" cleric by St. Bernard of Clairvaux and entered Clairvaux Abbey as an ordinary monk. Pope Eugenius III, himself a former Cistercian monk, speaks of Henry in 1147 as humbly washing dishes at Clairvaux.
In 1146, Henry, a formerly wealthy and secular cleric, became a monk at Clairvaux Abbey under the guidance of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Pope Eugenius III, who was also a former Cistercian monk, noted Henry's humble work as washing dishes at Clairvaux in 1147.