From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   October 6th - St. Bruno   
      
   Bruno was born in Cologne, France before the year 1030 and was well   
   educated.   
   His family was probably of noble birth, but their identification is   
   uncertain.   
      
   Bruno studied at St. Cunibert School in Cologne and the Cathedral School at   
   Reims and in Paris. He was ordained and became a Canon in the Church of St.   
   Cunibert and taught theology and grammar at its school, distinguishing   
   himself   
   by his scholarly ability.   
      
   His archbishop, Manasses I, a man steeped in simony (the buying and selling   
   of   
   spiritual benefits), appointed Bruno Chancellor of the diocese. Bruno soon   
   learned of the archbishop's ways and was influential with Hugh of St. Dié in   
   attaining his removal. Bruno had been considering a simpler life and soon   
   after   
   refused the archbishopric which had been offered to him and retired, under   
   the   
   guidance of the Cistercian St. Robert of Molesme, to Sèche-Fontaine near   
   Molesme.   
      
   Bruno soon found that he was not called to the cenobitic community life and   
   in   
   1084 he journeyed into the Chartreuse country in the heart of the Alps and   
   with   
   six companions built a small oratory and cells, which were placed a small   
   distance from each other. There they lived a life of prayer, poverty,   
   penance,   
   silence and solitude. Their chief work was transcribing books (there was no   
   printing press as yet.) They ate only one meal a day and their dress was   
   described as "poorer than that of any monks." Thus was the beginnings of the   
   Order of Carthusians, which still exists today.   
      
   In 1090 his former student, Pope Urban II, called Bruno from his hermitage   
   to   
   assist him in ecclesiastical affairs. Pope Urban encouraged him to take the   
   bishopric of Reggio, which he refused. He was given land in the valley of La   
   Torre and with the Pope's consent, retired again to his eremitical way of   
   life   
   with some like-minded companions he had met in Rome.   
      
   St. Bruno did not set out to start an order, but in his letters to his monks   
   he   
   outlined a simple and prayerful way of life, which became the foundation of   
   the   
   Carthusian spirituality. Bruno died October 6, 1101.   
      
   While Bruno has never been "officially" canonized (Carthusians were averse   
   to   
   publicity of any kind), he was recognized as a man of extraordinary   
   holiness. In   
   1514, Pope Leo X allowed his feast to be celebrated by the faithful. This   
   feast   
   was extended to the whole of the western Church by Pope Clement X in 1674.   
      
   Here was a man who had everything: riches, status, power, as well as   
   scholarly   
   excellence. He could have had any position he desired. Instead he literally   
   gave   
   up everything to hand over his life to God in a way that was totally foreign   
   to   
   his background and education. May we have the courage to follow the example   
   of   
   zeal for God that St. Bruno shows us.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "We believe also in the holy Church, that is, the Catholic Church. For   
   heretics   
   [those who reject one or more article of the Catholic Faith] violate the   
   faith   
   itself by a false opinion about God; schismatics [who only reject a Pope's   
   jurisdiction], however, withdraw from fraternal love by hostile separations,   
   although [otherwise] they believe the same things we do. Consequently,   
   neither   
   heretics nor schismatics belong to the Catholic Church; not heretics,   
   because   
   the Church loves God; and not schismatics, because the Church loves   
   neighbor"   
   -St. Augustine (Doctor, 354-430) - "Faith and the Creed" (10:21)   
      
   Bible Quotes:   
   "A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition, avoid.   
   Knowing   
   that he, that is such an one, is subverted, and sinneth [mortally], being   
   condemned by his own judgment."   
   -Titus 3:10   
      
   "Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ [what He   
   taught], hath not God"   
   -2 John 1:9   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   The Little Office of the Holy Angels   
   At Compline (Night Prayer)   
      
    Ant. God has given His angels charge of you, that they keep thee in all thy   
   ways. Amen.   
      
    V. Convert us, O God, our Savior.   
   R. And avert Thy anger from us. O God, incline unto my aid.   
      
     Glory be to the Father, etc. Alleluia.   
      
      
   HYMN   
      
                   AND Raphael of the glorious seven who stand   
                   Before the throne of Him Who lives and reigns;   
                   Angel of health I the Lord has filled thy hand   
                   With balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains   
                   Heal or console the victim of disease,   
                   And guide our steps when doubtful of our ways.   
      
    Ant. O holy angels, our guardians, defend us in the combat, that we perish   
   not   
   in the dreadful judgment.   
      
   V. In sight of Thy angels I will sing to Thee, my God.   
   R. I will adore at Thy holy temple, and confess to Thy. name.   
      
   PRAYER   
      
   O God, Who, with unspeakable providence, has granted to appoint Thy holy   
   angels   
   to be our guardians grant to Thy humble suppliants to be always defended by   
   their protection, and to enjoy their everlasting society through Jesus   
   Christ,   
   Thy Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You forever and ever. Amen.   
      
      
   COMMENDATION   
      
                       O Holy guardian at thy feet   
                       This wreath of humble flowers I lay;   
                       O that their odor were as sweet   
                       As he desires, who sings the lay,   
                       Protect me at death's awful hour,   
                       Receive my soul to thy embrace,   
                       Rich with the wonders of thy power,   
                       To thank, to praise thee, face to face. Amen.   
      
   Antiphon to the Archangel Michael   
      
                       HOLY archangel Michael   
                       defend us in battle,   
                       that we may not perish in the   
                       tremendous judgment.   
                       (Indulgence of 100 days. - Leo XIII, Aug. 19, I893.)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)