St. Bruno: Inflamed with Divine Love

Br. Jack Crowley

Saint Bruno is most famous for being the founder of the Carthusian order of monks. The story of how that came to be is really beautiful. Bruno was about fifty years old and had already had a successful career as a well respected academic and theologian, yet he yearned for more. One fateful day, Bruno sat in a garden with two friends and together they made a vow to God.

Later in life, Bruno wrote a letter to a friend describing that day in the garden, he said that

“we were inflamed with divine love and we promised, determined and vowed to abandon the fleeting shadows of this world at the earliest opportunity, and lay hold of the eternal by taking the monastic habit.”

That was almost one thousand years ago and Bruno’s Carthusian order is still going strong.

The life of Bruno reminds us that change is always possible. With the help of God and those around us, we always have the chance to reinvent ourselves, to start a new chapter in our lives.

The life of Bruno reminds us that change is always possible.

One of the many things I love about being a monk, is that I get to be Brothers with all sorts of men from all sorts of different backgrounds, ages, careers, personalities. What we all have in common is this unrelenting pursuit of God, this overwhelming desire to answer the call of God, and this deep love of the hope of the resurrection.

The religious life is a resurrected life – everything we have done up until this point is used by God, all the seemingly random elements of our life end up having some sort of purpose in the grand scheme of things.

Bruno and his friends started one of the most well-known and respected order of monks of all time. When you look at his image in the window, there’s a clear of seriousness to him. His face pointing right at you, quill and book in hand, ready to do work. Bruno is an inspiration to us all, letting us know that holy work is worthwhile and beautiful. Saint Bruno, pray for us.

Questions for Reflection

Saint Bruno's life shows us that change is possible, no matter our stage in life.

What areas of your life might God be calling you to reinvent or transform?

How can you open yourself to new beginnings, even when they seem overwhelming?

The religious life is described as a resurrected life, where everything, even the seemingly random parts of our past, is used by God.

Reflect on your own life journey. How has God used past experiences, whether good or difficult, to shape who you are today?

Saint Bruno (c. 1032-1101) wears the white habit of the Carthusians. The medallion shows him and the six companions who accompanied him to the Grande Chartreuse (near Grenoble, France), where he established the famous monastery of that name.

St. Bruno: Inflamed with Divine Love

Questions for Reflection

In Your Light We See Light

In Your Light We See Light

In Your Light We See Light

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply