ST. BRUNO.
FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 6TH.
SAINT BRUNO was born at Cologne, about A.D. 1030, of an
illustrious family. He was endowed with rare natural gifts, which he cultivated
with care at Paris. He became canon of Cologne, and then of Rheims, where
he had the direction of theological studies. On the death of the bishop
the see fell for a time into evil hands, and Bruno retired with a few friends
into the country. There he resolved to forsake the world, and live a life of
retirement and penance. With six companions he applied to Hugh, Bishop of
Grenoble, who led them into a wild solitude called the Chartreuse. There they
lived in poverty, self-denial, and silence, each apart in his own cell, meeting
only for the worship of God, and employing themselves in copying books. From the
name of the spot the Order of St. Bruno was called the Carthusian. Six years
later, Urban II called Bruno to Rome, that he might avail himself of his
guidance. Bruno tried to live there as he had lived in the desert ; but the
echoes of the great city disturbed his solitude, and, after refusing high
dignities, he wrung from the Pope permission to resume his monastic life in
Calabria. There he lived, in humility and mortification and great peace, till
his blessed death in 1101.
REFLECTION.-"0 everlasting kingdom," said St. Augustine ; " kingdom of endless
ages, whereon rests the untroubled light and the peace of God which passeth all
understanding, where the souls of the Saints are in rest, and everlasting joy is
on their heads, and sorrow and sighing have fled away! When shall I come and
appear before God ?"
INTERCESSORY PRAYER: Saint Bruno, please pray for (state your prayer request to Saint Bruno).
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