October 6--St. Bruno, Priest and Religious

 

St. Bruno Praying in the Desert by Nicolas Mignard is licensed under the public domain.

The end of the first millennium saw numerous reforms in the Church and religious life. The reforms of Pope St. Gregory VII allowed for the Church to be independent from control of the state. New religious orders, based upon the Rule of St. Benedict, were developing, especially in France. One of those orders was the Carthusian order of monks founded by today’s saint, St. Bruno. “They lived primarily as hermits and came together for the liturgy and for occasional common activities.” St. Bruno was born in Cologne, now in Germany around A.D. 1030 to a principal family of the city. He studied in Reims, France where he eventually became in charge of the school of the bishop for eighteen years. He became chancellor of the Archdiocese of Reims in 1075. He was offered the position of bishop, but instead decided to withdraw from the active ministry of diocesan work for the role of a hermit. In 1084 he and six companions went into the French Alps near Grenoble at Chartreuse and started a small community of hermits, which became the Carthusian order. St. Bruno’s student, Pope Urban II, called him to Rome to reengage in the daily activities of helping to run the universal Church as Pope Urban’s counsellor. St. Bruno died in 1101.

St. Bruno is a model for both the active and the contemplative life as symbolized by Martha and Mary, who were friends of Jesus. We need public servants of the Church to do the daily practical work of teaching, administrating, preaching, worshipping, healing, and more for the benefit of the People of God. But we also need the hidden servants who pray, meditate, sacrifice, and intercede on behalf of the People of God. St. Bruno was a master of both! St. Bruno, pray for us.

September 25--St. Cleopas, Holy Man

Caravaggio,Supper at Emmaus National Gallery, London.

There are a few people mentioned by name once or infrequently under singular circumstances in the Gospels, Simon of Cyrene, Jairus, Joanna, Mary of Clopas and today’s saint, St. Cleopas. St. Cleopas is mentioned in Luke’s Gospel as one of the two persons Jesus encountered on the road to Emmaus after the Resurrection, which may be the same occurrence stated in Mark 16:12-13 about the appearance to two disciples on their way to the country. Some think that this is the same person as Clopas, who is mentioned as the husband of Mary, one of the women present at the crucifixion of Jesus. Some traditions claim that he was the brother of St. Joseph and thus the uncle of Jesus. Others say that he was also the same person as Alphaeus, who was the father of James the Less, an Apostle of Jesus. It is difficult to know for sure, but we do know that he was a witness to the resurrected Jesus.

As a named witness to the Resurrection, St. Cleopas and his companion, perhaps his wife, were favored with a noteworthy appearance. They were on the road to Emmaus on the day of Jesus’ Resurrection when a stranger, Jesus, came up to them and walked with them. They shared their experience of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus and their lack of understanding of the whole situation. Jesus explained to them the meaning of the Old Testament regarding his passion and death and then moved as to leave them. They invited him to stay and he “broke bread” with them. At that they recognized him and he disappeared. Think about it; this is the structure of the Mass–reading of Scriptures and the homily along with the sharing of the Eucharist! WOW! St. Cleopas, pray for us.

 

September 16--St. Cyprian of Carthange, Bishop and Martyr

 

Mosaic of Saint Cyprian of Carthage from Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna, CC 4.0.

Galerius Maximus: "Are you Thascius Cyprianus?"
Cyprian: "I am."
Galerius: "The most sacred Emperors have commanded you to conform to the Roman rites."
Cyprian: "I refuse."
Galerius: "Take heed for yourself."
Cyprian: "Do as you are bid; in so clear a case I may not take heed."
Galerius: "You have long lived an irreligious life, and have drawn together a number of men bound by an unlawful association, and professed yourself an open enemy to the gods and the religion of Rome; and the pious, most sacred and august Emperors ... have endeavoured in vain to bring you back to conformity with their religious observances; whereas therefore you have been apprehended as principal and ringleader in these infamous crimes, you shall be made an example to those whom you have wickedly associated with you; the authority of law shall be ratified in your blood. It is the sentence of this court that Thascius Cyprianus be executed with the sword." 

Cyprian: "Thanks be to God."

Thus, the trial and sentencing of St. Cyprian of Carthage in A.D. 258 under Emperor Valerian. He had survived the Decian persecution eight years earlier by going into hiding. However, many had criticized him for that. He explained that he needed to be pastor for his flock, whereas in the latter persecution he explained that he needed to be an example. In between, when the persecution had been relaxed, many who had lapsed from the faith in fear of martyrdom desired to return to the fold. St. Cyprian approved, but only after an appropriate public penance. He was opposed by those who wanted no penance and those who wanted no readmission! Pope St. Cornelius, whose feast day Cyprian shares, agreed with him. Reconciliation is a necessary sacrament for us as well! St. Cyprian, pray for us.

September 7–Bl. Eugenia Picco, Virgin

 

Blessed Eugenia Picco

“As Jesus has chosen bread, which is very common, so must my life be, common ... approachable by all and, at the same time, humble and hidden, like bread.” “These words of Eugenia Picco flow from long contemplation of Jesus, Bread of life, broken for all. Eugenia arrived at this synthesis after a long and painful journey.”

Born in 1867 in Milan, Italy; “[a]fter the mysterious disappearance of her father, she remained with her mother and grew up in an irreligious and morally corrupt environment.” “‘Dangers and occasions at home and outside’, Eugenia said when recalling those troubled years and that ‘instinctive’ strength to pray….” In 1887 she fled from her home and joined the Ursuline Sisters. Thereafter, she took on some important offices, including Superior General. She died in 1921 of tuberculosis.

Pope St. John Paul II said: “The vital synthesis between contemplation and action, assimilated in the daily participation in the Eucharist, was the foundation of the spiritual experience and the burning charity of Bl. Eugenia Picco. In her life she made every effort to listen to the word of the Lord …, never drawing back from the service which love of neighbour required. At Parma she took upon herself the poverty of the people responding to the needs of the young and of needy families and assisting the victims of the war that in this period made Europe suffer. Even in the face of suffering, with the inevitable moments of difficulty and bewilderment that it entails, Bl. Eugenia Picco knew how to transform the experience of suffering into an occasion of purification and inner growth. From Bl. Eugenia we can learn the art of listening to the voice of the Lord in order to be credible witnesses of the Gospel of charity ....” Bl. Eugenia, pray for us.