Day 32 -- Saint Bruno

What's in a name? What does your name say about you? Do you have a devotion to a particular saint? Does a saint bear your name? Today's saint has meaning for me--not for who he was so much (even though his life was very fascinating), but for his name...Saint Bruno. As many of you know, one of my good friends bears that same last name. Time and time again I am overwhelmed at our friendship and how quickly it grew. We could spend hours together (and we do) just talking about...anything and everything!

"Stat crux dum volvitur orbis"
"The Cross is steady while the world is turning"

Saint Bruno was born in Cologne, Germany 1030. He was educated in Paris and was ordained in 1055 and taught theology--one of his students was Pope Blessed Urban II. He followed a vision he received and went to a secluded hermitage where he could spend the rest of his life becoming closer to God. He wrote several commentaries on the Psalms and on Saint Paul's epistles. He was never formally canonized because of the Carthusians' unwillingness towards public honors, but Pope Leo X granted the Carthusians permission to celebrate his feast in 1514, and his name was placed on the Roman calendar in 1623.

With the help of Saint Hugh of Gernoble, he founded what became the first house of Carthusiam Order where he and his brothers supported themselves as manuscript copyists. They roughly followed the rule of Saint Benedict. They embraced a life of poverty and prayer. There are monks and nuns. They observe an almost perpetual silence and complete abstinence from meat, with a fast once a week on bread and water. There are 25 houses around the world. Some countries include the United States, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. There are 370 monks and 75 nuns. Their order is the only one in the Church which has not gone through a period of reform becuase it never needed one -- it is the strictest orders in the Church and still follows Bruno's life of prayer.


Here is a YouTube documentary about the life of the Carthusians. And here is another video about the life of Saint Bruno.


Prayer to Saint Bruno
O glorious patriarch, holy Father Bruno, look down upon us with those eyes of kindness that so often won men’s hearts. Day and night as of old, thou dost hear in heaven’s court the voices of thy sons upon earth joined in God’s praises, linked with the angel choirs.

Sweet Father, if our voices may reach that Throne of Majesty, we ourselves are not yet come there. Guard and guide us on that heavenward road thou hast trod before us. Thou knowest its dangers; thou knowest our weakness. Be our helper that we may keep unquenched that fire of fervor which thou didst light up so long ago. Then shall we be thy crown of glory both here and hereafter. Amen.

"Oh, Lord, my God, I thank you for Saint Bruno and for my dear friend whom You have put into my life to show me Your love and peace and kindness."