St. Bruno, Hermit Founder – Oct 06 – Homily – Fr Joseph Michael

 

Fr Joseph Michael gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Oct 06, 2025, where he explores Jesus' call to love God wholly and neighbors selflessly, exemplified by the Good Samaritan, while honoring St. Bruno's life of contemplative solitude and the enduring hope of the Cross.

In this reflection, Father reminds us that Jesus invites everyone to love God with our entire heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to treat others with the same care we'd want for ourselves. Using the story of the Good Samaritan, who helped a hurt stranger despite cultural divides, Father shows that true neighbors include everyone we meet, no matter their background or how they treat us. On St. Bruno's feast day, Father shares how this scholar left a busy life for quiet prayer in hermitages, founding the Carthusian Order. Bruno's motto, that the world's changes can't shake the Cross of Christ, offers comfort and steady faith. We all can build a deeper inner connection with God through prayer, preparing for endless joy in heaven, beyond fleeting worldly things.

For Further Reading:

Deuteronomy 6:5 - NAB - Love the Lord with all your heart. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/deuteronomy/6?5
Matthew 22:37 - NAB - Greatest commandment to love God fully. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/22?37
Hebrews 13:8 - NAB - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, forever. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/13?8
Matthew 28:20 - NAB - I am with you always to the end. - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/28?20
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2565 - Prayer as covenant with God - In the New Testament, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God. - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1.htm#2565
Catechism of the Catholic Church 27 - Desire for God in human heart - The desire for God is written in the human heart. - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c1.htm#27
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2196 - Love of neighbor as self - The love of neighbor is inseparable from love for God. - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2.htm#2196
Wikipedia - Biography of St. Bruno of Cologne - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_of_Cologne

Mass: St. Bruno - Opt Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=575
Readings: Monday 27th Week of Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100625.cfm
1st: jon 1:1-2:1, 11
Resp: psa 2:2-5, 8
Gsp: luk 10:25-37

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1171&r=1517

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