Blessed Guy of Durnes

Guy's first care, according to the constitutions of his Order and in accordance with the laws of the Church, was to go and throw himself at the feet of his bishop, to take the oath of obedience to him, while receiving from him the abbatial blessing necessary for his installation. Upon returning to Cherlieu, he displayed as much zeal as prudence in the government of his community. The monastery church was dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary. Soon it became necessary to enlarge the dwellings, as the fame of Guy and his fervent religious attracted a crowd of numerous disciples to Cherlieu. They set about clearing the neighboring lands; to the fatigues of outside work were added inconceivable mortifications. Guy and his disciples practiced at Cherlieu the austere life they had led a t Clairva Clairvaux Cistercian monastery where Gerard lived and died. ux, where they ate, most often, only boiled beech leaves, with barley or millet bread.

From the second year of his governance, Abbot Guy found himself at the head of a numerous community, and took rank among the most distinguished prelates of Burgundy. Soon, colonies from his monastery were seen spreading throughout Burgundy, France, and Helvetia, and themselves giving, in these regions, new daughters to Cîteaux. Haut-Fr Cîteaux Monastic order to which Bertrand and the Abbey of Grandselve belong. êt (diocese of Lausanne), Acey (dio cese Acey Daughter house of Cherlieu Abbey located in the Diocese of Besançon. of Besançon), Le Gard (diocese of Amiens), and Haut erive (di Hauterive Daughter abbey of Cherlieu located in the Diocese of Lausanne. ocese of Lausanne) owe their origin to the principal disciples of the first abbot of Cherlieu.

Blessed Guy was associated by Saint Bernard with saint Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux and spiritual master of Raoul. his important work of revisin g and correcting the liturgical chant, which he révision et de la correction du chant liturgique Musical reform work led by Saint Bernard with the assistance of Guy. had decided upon at the general chapter held at Clairvaux around the year 1150. Saint Bernard subsequently gave him many proofs of his esteem and affection. Finally, after having seen his community prosper every day and having gathered the abundant fruits of a wise administration, father of a large family of religious and founder of a glorious galaxy of monasteries, the blessed abbot of Cherlieu, ripe for heaven, passed away in the midst of his disciples, and went to join his illustrious master who had preceded him by a few years into the abode of glory.

Excerpt from the Saints of Franche-Comté, and the Menology of Cîteaux.