St. Bruno and the Carthusians

St. Bruno of Cologne, Founder of the Carthusians

Birth and education

St. Bruno was born at Cologne, Germany, in 1030 A.D. of the prominent Hartenfaust family. He was sent to Rheims at an early age for his education. On his return to Cologne in about 1055 A.D., he was ordained a priest and then became a canon at St. Cunibert's - a collegiate church.

Professorship and chancellorship

In 1056 A.D., while still a young man, St. Bruno was offered a professorship at his school in Rheims. In the following year, he then became head of the school and remained there for eighteen years - until 1074 A.D. After his term as teacher, St. Bruno was appointed chancellor of the diocese by archbishop Manasses. Manasses was however a man deemed not worthy of his high clerical office. St. Bruno and others thus testified against him at a council in 1076 A.D. Manasses refused to appear in this council and had the houses of St. Bruno and his friends sacked and their possessions sold.

The life of a hermit

In 1080 A.D., Manasses was eventually deposed and the people of Rheims wanted to make Bruno archbishop. However, the events that have transpired all the more strengthened a resolve in St. Bruno to give up all his material goods and take up the life of a hermit. He thus became a hermit under Abbot St. Robert Molesmes (who then founded a monastery at Citeaux). St. Bruno then moved on to Grenoble with six companions in 1084 A.D.

The high desert of Chartreuse

Bruno and his friends established themselves in the almost inaccessible high desert of Chartreuse. St. Hugh, bishop of Grenoble, was instrumental in that establishment. In the area of the desert, they were assigned hermitages which were located in a very desolate mountainous Alpine area. And since that area was called Le Grande Chartreuse, they became known as the Carthusians. These Carthusians built an oratory and individual cells. They roughly followed the rule of St. Benedict and embraced a life of poverty, manual labor, prayer and transcribing manuscripts.

The Carthusian life

The life of St. Bruno and his Carthusians centered around prayer and work. Twice a day, the monks gathered for prayer in the church. At other hours, they prayed in their own cells. Except on major feasts in the church's liturgical calendar, they had no more than one meal per day which they ate in their cells. Their principal work was to copy books. The income derived from this work provided the meager subsistence on which they lived.

Fame of Bruno and the Carthusians

Even with his reclusive life, the fame of Bruno and of his companions spread. Other monasteries opened as the order grew. St. Hugh was so impressed by Bruno that he took him as his spiritual director. This bishop of Grenoble often made long and difficult journeys to Chartreuse to visit with Bruno and seek his advice and guidance.

In 1090 A.D., St. Bruno was brought to Rome, against his wishes, by Pope Urban II (who was Bruno's pupil at Rheims). Bruno was to be made papal adviser in the reformation of the clergy. St. Bruno did advise Urban II in this reform but demurred from the pope's offer to name him as archbishop of Reggio in Calabria. As Bruno persuaded the pope to let him return to his solitary state, the pope permitted him.

Death and sainthood

St. Bruno died on October 6, 1101 A.D. This is why the Church celebrates his feast every October 6. Bruno was never formally canonized because of the Carthusians' aversion to public honors. Pope Leo X however granted the Carthusians permission to celebrate his feast day in 1514 A.D., and St. Bruno's name was place in the Roman calendar in 1623 A.D. In the time of Pope Clement X, the observance of St. Bruno's feast day was extended throughout the whole Western Church.

The Carthusian Order is regarded by the Church as the perfect model of contemplative life. It is noted in their history that they never had need of reform.