Homily: October 6 - St. Bruno - "While the world changes, the cross stands firm"

Saint Bruno was the founder of the Carthusians.  Since its founding by St. Bruno, the Carthusian way of life has gone unchanged, following Bruno’s ideal of penance and prayer for almost 950 years. 

The motto of the Carthusians is worth great reflection: Stat crux dum volvitur orbis.  “While the world changes, the cross stands firm.”  While cultures change, while civilizations rise and falls, while technologies spring up to provide conveniences, the cross remains the way to salvation and the road to perfection. 

Carthusians monks and nuns withdraw from the world in order to focus on what really matters, and they remind us to do the same. In the statutes for the Carthusian order we read: “separated from all, we are united to all for it is in the name of all that we present ourselves to the living God.”  Again, we need moments every day, where we truly withdraw from the world to cling to Christ. 

St. Bruno said, “In the solitude and silence of the wilderness...God gives his athletes the reward they desire: a peace that the world does not know and joy in the Holy Spirit."

The Carthusians do not choose solitude for its own sake, but because it is an excellent means for him to attain deep union with God and all mankind.  The world of noise, busyness, and distraction seeks to deprive us of the peace and joy God wishes to give us. 

There are contemplative monks and nuns, not only of the Carthusian order, but many orders, who have followed this vocation: to enter the silence to pray.  They pray for us constantly, that we can be free from all that keeps us from the deep faithfulness God wishes for each of us.

By turning their hearts and minds completely to God, they remind us us that Christ alone is our salvation.

Listen again to the opening prayer, “O God, who called Saint Bruno to serve you in solitude, grant, through his intercession, that amid the changes of this world we may constantly look to you alone.”  For the glory of God and salvation of souls.