Feast of St. Bruno

Today is the Feast of St. Bruno who died on October 6 in the year 1101. He was the founder of the Carthusian Order in Chartreuse, France. After his death, a scroll was brought around Europe on which hundreds of people who knew him wrote their condolences and promised their prayers for his soul.

The photo above is of a statue of him in St. Peter's Basilica carved by French sculptor Michelangelo Slodtz in 1744. It depicts a scene from his life when St. Bruno turned down the mitre and staff of a bishop.


The monastery at Chartreuse today is famous for producing Chartreuse liquor.
A beautiful movie about life within the Carthusian order called "Into Great Silence" was made just a few years ago. The beauty of the house there at Chartreuse, the coming and going of the seasons as well as the hours of the day make for a very moving film. Click here for the movie website. Click here for more details about the Carthusian order at their website.

Click the link below to see a YouTube video of St. Bruno's life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZDiNBAqWxI