When St. Bruno went into the 'desert' of the Chartreuse he and his followers built a rustic chapel and huts for hermitages. No heat, no electricity, no television or phone, no health insurance... No grand charterhouse was envisioned or planned. No fundraising or advertising campaign was initiated - nor did any of them make the rounds of the lecture circuit, or publish books. They went in to the wilderness to pray. Some of the men were quite learned and of a mature age - even over fifty. They devoted themselves to prayer and divine study. Whenever Bruno was called out - it was at the request of the bishops or the pope, and even then he remained as hidden as possible.
Ah, Terry, you speak of shadowlands, as clear to clarity as we get, on this earth. Course, I'm partial, you can tell that, by the name of mah blog!!
ReplyDeletekeep thinking back to Terry's blog post about the processions, as I commented at the time, I dream about the latter. It's all building up to an ultimate, yet we're prone to concentrate on the immediate. Never mind, where sin abounds, how much more, grace.
Pray your rosaries. ( I say that as a reminder to self, first and foremost).
Why was he declared patron of those possessed?
ReplyDeleteChris: From what I remember, and correct me, anyone, if this is wrong, St. Bruno, because of his deep union with God, was able to drive the devil from several individuals who were possessed. The contemplative aspect of his life made him "fearsome among the demons".
ReplyDeleteBut did he sell coffee?
ReplyDeleteMr. Terry: I'm sorry, but this really p***** me off:
ReplyDeletehttp://ncronline.org/blogs/examining-crisis/reality-celibate-life-reflections-henri-nouwen?nocache=1#comment-158785
In the context of the feast of St. Bruno, could you address this?...what rubbish!!
Sorry!
Thanks Father - I can't really address stuff like this as I am not qualified. I'm not sure what was wrong with these people but something was definitely amiss, in more ways than one. I'm rather confused about celibates who explore their sexuality and write books about the experience. I suppose it helps those who don't know what to do. But it's all rather "Peter Pan" to me.
ReplyDeleteNouwen and his admirers seemed to be impressed with the 'sainted' Baroness, and liked to levitate in those circles - flighty birds of a feather...
Mr. Terry: You do well in your articulation of this "mess".
ReplyDeleteMy thanks and prayers for your "contribution"...I have absolutely no idea what to say...really...nothing!
Father - after I'm finished, by the end of the week I should lose most of my followers and links.
ReplyDeleteI'm a thick-skined old biddy--takes LOTS to scare me off :)
ReplyDeleteSara
Father NP--I have read the article..would you welcome an email of my opinion?? You would get a woman's pint of you--not sure how helpful it would be.I don't want to clutter up Terry's combox.
ReplyDeleteSara