October 6 2021 - St. Bruno - While the world changes, the cross stands firm

 St. Bruno had a very impressive ecclesiastical career. As a priest of the French Archdiocese of Reims, he was named by his bishop as director of a prestigious school for nearly two decades, acquiring an excellent reputation as a philosopher and theologian. Among his students would go on to become abbots, prelates, bishops, cardinals, and even a Pope. 

In 1075, he was appointed Chancellor of Reims, and was nearly on the verge of being named a bishop, himself, when he and two fellow priests took a vow to withdraw from the world in study and prayer as hermits. They became known as the Carthusians, named after the Chartreuse mountains where they built their first hermitage.

He refused being named bishop and archbishop many times, seeking Christian perfection as a monastic. At the time of his death, his fellow hermits extolled Bruno’s fervent prayer, extreme mortification, and his undying devotion to the Blessed Virgin.   

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, following the motto set by St. Bruno: 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.

Though they withdraw from the world, Carthusians see themselves deeply united to the Church, united to all of us through their prayer and penance. In the statutes for the 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.”  They offer their lives for us, praying for us, and doing penance for us, that we may know God deeply and do the work of the Church in the world.

Consecrated men and women like the Carthusians win great graces for us, and we mustn’t let those graces go in vain. We do well to remember them, and to lift them up in prayer, and consider how the Lord calls us to stand apart from the changing world, its values, its errors, and remain close to the unchanging cross of Christ through prayer and penance, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That the contemplative religious orders of the Church may inspire all Christians to seek God in moments of prayer, silence, and solitude. 

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering may come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.