Saturday, October 3, 2020

Office of St. Bruno: Founder of the Carthusians

 


Office of St. Bruno: Founder of the Carthusians

 

VESPERS I

Iesu, redemptor omnium,

perpes corona caelitum,

in ac die clementius

nostris faveto vocibus,

 

 

Sacre tui qua nominis

confessor almus claruit,

cuius celebrat annua

devota plebs sollemnia.

 

 

Per illa quae sunt saeculi

gressu sereno transiit,

tibi fidelis iugiter

iter salutis persequens.

 

 

At rite mundi gaudiis

non cor caducis applicans,

cum angelis caelestibus

laetus potitur praemiis.

 

 

Huius benignus annue

nobis sequi vestigia;

huius precatu servulis

dimitte noxam criminis.

 

 

Sit, Christe, rex piissime,

tibi Patrique gloria

cum Spiritu Paraclito,

in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

 

O Jesus, man's Redeemer kind,

Eternal Crown of all the saints,

Upon this joyful festal day

Heed yet more graciously our prayer.

 

For we, your People, celebrate

The feast of one who loved you well,

And for the honor of your Name

Sought first your Kingdom of all good.

 

Through all the snares the world presents

He passed unruffled and unharmed,

Pursuing true salvation's path,

Remaining faithful to the last.

 

He dallied not with things of earth,

Nor set his heart on passing joys,

And now with angel’s choirs above

He joyously obtains reward.

 

Grant us the grace we beg and pray,

To follow in his footsteps sure,

And by his intercession too,

Forgive us when we go astray.

 

O Christ our King and tender Lord,

All glory ever be to you,

Who with the Holy Spirit reign

With God the Father's might supreme. Amen.

 

 

LAUDS

Iesu, corona celsior

et veritas sublimior,

qui confitenti servulo

redis perenne praemium,

 

Da supplicanti coetui,

huius rogatu caelitis,

remissionem criminum

rumpendum nexum vinculi.

 

Nil vanitatis diligens,

terrena sic exercuit,

ut mente tota fervidus

tibi placeret unice.

 

Te, Christe, piissime,

hic confitendo iugiter,

calcavit hostem fortiter

superbum ac satellitem.

 

Virtute clarus et fide,

orationi sedulus

ac membra servans sobria,

dapes supernas obtinet.

 

 

Deo Patri sit gloria

tibique soli Filio

cum Spiritu Paraclito,

in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

 

O Jesus, Crown of all, Most High,

And Truth sublime, surpassing all,

You give reward that has no end

To those that love and praise your Name.

 

Through intercession of this Saint,

Give unto us who grace implore

Remission of our daily sins,

And break the bonds that hold us fast.

 

He gave no thought to vanities,

But lived and toiled while here below,

To please you only, day by day

While love for you inspir'd each deed.

 

Most gracious King, Lord Jesus Christ,

By ever clinging to your law,

He overcame the demon proud,

By strength you gave him for the fight.

 

Made perfect by deep faith and prayer,

And virtue's constant energy,

Your love has summoned him to share

The joyous festival above.

 

To God the Father glory be,

And glory to his only Son,

The Holy Spirit too be praised

Both now and for eternity. Amen.

 

Matins/Office of Readings

Bruno, the Founder of the Charterhouse Monks, was born at Cologne. From his earliest years he was a very grave child, turning away from childish things, and that so manifestly, that by the grace of God the tokens of holiness already pointed him out as a Father of monks, and a restorer of the life of hermits. His parents, who were eminent for rank and goodness, sent him to Paris, where he studied so well in Philosophy and Theology, that he took the degree of Doctor in both faculties; and a short while after, for his famous graces, he was made a Canon of Rheims.

After some years, he, and six comrades, forsook the world and betook themselves to Hugh, the holy Bishop of Grenoble, who, when he learned the reason of their coming, and believing them to have been figured by seven stars which he had seen that night in a dream falling at his feet, gave them a grant of land in some very wild mountains in his Diocese, which are called the Chartreuses. Thither Bruno and his companions, together with Hugh, withdrew themselves, and led for some years the life of hermits. Pope Urban II, who had formerly been his disciple, commanded him to come to Rome, and amid the afflictions which then scourged the Church, held him for some time as his counsellor. But at last Bruno, who had refused the Archbishopric of Reggio, got his leave to go away.

In his love of the wilderness, he betook himself to a certain desert place in the Diocese of Squillaci, in the uttermost coasts of Calabria. He was praying there one day in a cave, when the hounds of Roger, Sovereign Earl of Sicily and Calabria, who was out hunting, came and bayed a the door of it. Thus was he found by this Prince, who was moved by his holiness, and began to cherish him and his comrades, and treat them very kindly. The Earl's goodness was rewarded, for when he was one time laying siege to Capua, and one Sergius, who was first groom of his bedchamber, had made a plot to betray him, Bruno, who was still living in the desert above mentioned, appeared to him in a dream, and delivered him from the danger which was hanging over him. At length Bruno, full of graces and good works, and famous for godliness not less than for learning, fell asleep in the Lord, and was buried in the monastery of St. Stephen, founded by the same Earl Roger, where he is still held in great honour.

Bruno, the founder of the Carthusian Order, was born at Cologne. From his boyhood, he excelled in the soberness of his ways and his desire for solitude. His parents sent him to Paris, and there he made such progress in the study of Philosophy and Theology that he earned the degree of doctor and master in both faculties. Not long after, because of his outstanding virtues he was appointed a canon of the church at Rheims. Having founded the Carthusian Order and having led a hermit's life in this Order for some years, he was summoned to Rome by Urban II, who had been his disciple. In those calamitous times, the Pope made use of Bruno's counsel and learning for several years. Finally, the man of God, who had refused the Archbishopric of Reggio, was allowed to depart. He again sought a place of solitude, and there, full of virtues and merits, he fell asleep in the Lord.

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