St Bruno, founder of the Carthusians – Oct 06 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Oct 06, 2023, on the life and legacy of St Bruno, founder of the Carthusians.

St. Bruno was born around 1030 in Cologne into a noble family. He was highly educated and went on to be a renowned teacher at the Cathedral School of Reims. His illustrious students included Pope Bl. Urban II and St. Hugh, Bishop of Grenoble. St. Bruno's life took a dramatic turn in 1069 when an unworthy bishop, involved in simony, took office. Bruno openly opposed the bishop, leading to his temporary exile until the bishop's deposition in 1080.

However, the worldly corruptions witnessed by St. Bruno during these events led him to seek solitude with God. Initially joining the Cistercians under St. Robert, he soon realized a desire for greater solitude. In 1084, with the help of his former pupil St. Hugh, now Bishop of Grenoble, St. Bruno and his companions established a monastic community in a remote valley called La Chartreuse, which became La Grande Chartreuse. Their lifestyle of prayer, manual work, and rigorous penances sought a closer communion with God.

In later years, St. Bruno was called to Rome by Pope Bl. Urban II for church reformation efforts. Despite challenges, including opposing an Antipope supported by the Holy Roman Emperor, St. Bruno's devout life continued. He narrowly escaped being made the Bishop of Reggio, expressing his wish to return to La Grande Chartreuse. A compromise saw him establishing a new Carthusian monastery in Calabria, La Torre, where he lived until his death in 1101.

The Carthusian Order, known for its commitment to holiness, remains as a testament to St. Bruno's legacy. An anecdote of an incorrupt monk discovered in an abandoned Carthusian monastery highlights the enduring sanctity associated with the Carthusians. The simple yet profound response to rebury the incorrupt monk underscores the expectation of sanctity within the Order.

00:00 - Introduction
00:10 - Early Life and Education of St. Bruno
00:45 - St. Bruno Becomes a Teacher
01:55 - Conflict with the New Bishop
03:26 - St. Bruno Seeks Greater Solitude
03:53 - Founding the Carthusian Order
04:55 - St. Bruno Called to Rome assists Pope Urban II
06:12 - St. Bruno's Last Years in Calabria
06:30 - Holiness of the Carthusian Order

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Bruno - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=575
Readings: Friday 26th Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100623.cfm
1st: bar 1:15-22
Resp: psa 79:1-5, 8-9
Gsp: luk 10:13-16

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1171&r=1515

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