Saint Bruno (or Bruno) of Segni

The firmness with which he defended the Catholic doctrine concerning the Eucharist against Berengar of Tours, in a council held in 1079, earned him the singular esteem of Pope Gregory VII, who appointed him Bishop of Se gni two years l évêque de Segni Bishop of Segni and Abbot of Monte Cassino, theologian and papal legate. ater. The Saint, who accepted this dignity only with great difficulty, showed himself very zealous for the sanctification of his flock; he also rendered important services to the universal Church on several occasions. He was no less regarded by Popes Victor III and Urban II than by Gregory VII. In 1095, he accompanied Urban to France and attended the council held in Tours the following year. When he returned to Italy, he resumed his duties with his usual zeal; but he could no longer resist the attraction he felt for solitude. He resigned his bishopric, retired to Monte Cassino (Mons Cassimensis, Order of Saint Bene Mont-Cassin A location in Italy where the relics of Saint Scholastica were kept. dict and its first fou ndation, in the Kingd Ordre de Saint-Benoît Religious order occupying the monastery of Honnecourt. om of Naples), and took the habit there. His diocesans asked for their pastor back; but the Pope left Bruno in his retreat; he decided to do so as a result of the solicitations made to him on this subject by several cardinals, and by Oderisius, Abbot of Monte Cassino. The latter having died in 1105, Otto succeeded him; but he lived only two years after his election. The monks chose Bruno to replace him.

Our Saint belongs to France by one aspect of his life. In 1106, the So vereign Pontiff Paschal II souverain pontife Pascal II Pope reigning during the episcopate of Geoffrey. appointed him legate in France and entrusted him with the mission of traveling through the western provinces and imploring aid for the Holy Land. He spent a considerable amount of time in Le Mans Le Mans Episcopal see and primary place of activity of the saint. and held several assemblies of prelates and lords there. During the stay of this prelate, Saint Bartholomew, Abbot of Marmoutier, came to ask him to have the church of Chahaignes returned to the priory of Saint-Guingalois of Château-du-Loir. It belonged to this priory by virtue of a gift from Bishop Gervais; but Geoffrey of Mayenne had seized it and bestowed it upon one of his officers. Ebrard, prior of the monastery of Saint-Guingalois, had opposed this usurpation; but he had failed, and several members of the clergy of Le Mans had supported the cause of the usurpers. The monks had appealed to the Holy See, which had ordered Bishop Hildebert to have the church restored, or to appear before Ivo of Chartres, who would judge the cause. The Bishop of Le Mans had promised to see to this restitution; but as he delayed in fulfilling his commitment, the Abbot of Marmoutier took advantage of the legate's presence in Le Mans to demand justice. Indeed, despite all the subterfuges invented by Emery, holder of the church of Chahaignes, Bruno recognized the rights of the monks and charged Hildebert and Count Hélie, in the name of Saint Peter, to execute the sentence. This judgment was pronounced on April 16, 1106. Forty days later, Bruno presided over a very large council in Poiti ers. Bohemond, Prince of An Bohémond, prince d'Antioche Crusader prince present at the Council of Poitiers. tioch, came there to implore the help of the Christians of the West, and a crowd of knights took up the cross there. The legate confirmed there once again the sentence relating to the church of Chahaignes, and addressed letters to the Bishop of Le Mans to urge him to have it executed.

Our Saint composed various writings to defend ecclesiastical discipline and to extirpate simony, regardi simonie Buying or selling of spiritual goods, a major struggle of the saint. ng this vice as the principal source of all the disorders that defiled the holiness of the sanctuary.

The works of Saint Bruno of Segni are: Commentaries on different parts of Scripture; Sermons, numbering one hundred and forty-five; Letters, dogmatic Treatises, two Lives, one of the holy Pope Leo IX, the other of Saint Peter of Anagni.

Taken from Godescard and the History of the Church of Le Mans, by the Rev. Fr. Dom Piolin.