— Galatians 6:1-3 —
Weedy
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should
restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
Carry
each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of
Christ. If
anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
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No Christian should ever think that he or she is totally independent
and
doesn't need help from others, and no one should feel excused from the
task
of helping others. The body of Christ - the church - functions only
when the
members work together for the common good. Do you know someone who
needs
help? Is there a Christian brother or sister who needs correction or
encouragement? Humbly and gently reach out to that person.
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November 18th - Saint Odon Of Cluny, Abbot
(Also known as Eudes)
(d. 942)
On Christmas Eve of the year 877, a pious but childless Christian
nobleman
of Aquitaine implored Our Lord, by the fecundity of His Holy Mother
and His
Incarnation, to grant him a son. His prayer was heard; Odon was born,
and
his grateful father, in a prayer offered him - still an infant in his
arms -
to Saint Martin of Tours (d. 400) to be his spiritual son. Odon was
later
taught by a wise priest, then was placed in the court of the Count of
Anjou
and that of the Duke of Aquitaine. There he was influenced by the
passions
which reign in courts, and neglected his prayers to think only of
games,
hunting, and military pursuits. But God did not abandon him, and he
was
haunted in his dreams by the dangers of a disordered life. He prayed
to the
Blessed Virgin and begged Her one Christmas Eve to lead him on the
narrow
path of sanctity.
He was then sixteen years old, and the next day he fell ill with a
sickness
which increased and for three years kept him on the verge of death.
When his
father told him he had consecrated him to Saint Martin, Odon renewed
this
consecration and promised to enter into his service; suddenly then his
headaches left him and he recovered from his illness.
He went to Tours to serve in the church of Saint Martin for a time.
But when
a hermitage was built nearby he retired there to devote himself to
prayer
and study, while continuing to visit the tomb of Saint Martin every
night.
He began to study the Scriptures and abandoned all pagan readings.
Later he
was inspired to enter the monastery of Baume in the diocese of
Besançon, and
there he received the habit from Saint Bernon, the abbot, in the year
909.
He was charged with the instruction of novices and boarding students.
When
later he returned home on a visit to his parents, they were so touched
by
his words that despite their age they renounced the world and entered
a
monastery. When Odon returned to Baume he was ordained a priest.
When Saint Bernon, who had governed six monasteries, died, three of
those
were entrusted to Saint Odon; these were Cluny, newly founded in 910,
Massay, and Deols. He resided in Cluny, of which he is often titled
the
Founder, because he organized and enlarged this new house. His
reputation
attracted a large number of vocations. His special care was for
children; at
that period the schools had taken refuge in the cathedrals and
monasteries.
He watched with gentleness over the habits, studies, and repose of
these
dear children. He personally taught them as well as the monks. The
Rule of
Saint Benedict, providing for the education of children as well as the
formation of monks, was followed zealously. Many alms were given to
the
poor, without concern for the morrow. The charity of Cluny was so
abundant
that in one year food was distributed to more than seven thousand
indigent
persons.
Saint Odon visited Rome three times; there he reformed a monastery,
and
later in France he submitted several abbeys to the discipline of
Cluny.
These were organized into a federation under the sole abbot of Cluny,
with
great unity of statutes and regime. It was said that "from Benevent to
the
Atlantic Ocean, the most important monasteries of Italy and Gaul
rejoiced in
being under his commandment." After celebrating the feast of Saint
Martin at
Tours in 942, Saint Odon fell ill; and having exhorted all the
religious who
had come there to see him and learn how to be regular in their
observance,
he blessed them and gave up his soul to God. He was buried at Tours in
the
church of Saint Julian.
Reflection: "It needs only for a Catholic to show devotion to any
Saint,"
says Father Newman, "in order to receive special benefits from his
intercession."
Source: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin
(Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 13.
Saint Quote:
If I love Jesus, I ought to resemble Him; If I love Jesus, I ought to
love
what He
loves, what He does, what He prefers to all else: humility. How may we
acquire this
virtue? Neither logic or reflection will help us any; thinking nice
thoughts
about it or
taking heroic resolutions would lead us to believe we had already
acquired
it, and we
would content ourselves with that. We must examine our actions to see
if we
not
sought our own interest in them. Let us repeat often, " Jesus, so
humble of
heart,
make our hearts like unto thine."
--St. Peter Eymard
Bible Quote:
All who want to live piously in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
(2
Tim. 3:12)
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O Lord, You received affronts
without number from Your blasphemers,
yet each day You free captive souls
from the grip of the ancient enemy.
You did not avert Your face
from the spittle of perfidy,
yet You wash souls in saving waters.
You accepted Your scourging without murmur,
yet through your meditation
You deliver us from endless chastisements.
You endured ill-treatment of all kinds,
yet You want to give us a share
in the choirs of angels in glory everlasting.
You did not refuse to be crowned with thorns,
yet You save us from the wounds of sin.
In your thirst You accepted the bitterness of gall,
yet You prepare Yourself to fill us with eternal delights.
You kept silence under the derisive homage
rendered You by Your executioners,
yet You petition the Father for us
although You are his equal in Divinity.
You came to taste death,
yet You were the Life
and had come to bring it to the dead.