St. Bruno the Great

Saint Bruno the Great

Bishop & Confessor

Bruno was born in the year of Our Lord 925 to St. Matilda and King Henry I, called Henry the Fowler because he was attending to his bird snares when informed of his election as King of the Germans. Bruno’s older brother, Otto the Great, restored the Holy Roman Empire and was crowned in Rome by Pope John XXII before the two became enemies. Otto appointed Bruno his chaplain and imperial chancellor, making him perhaps the second most powerful man in the empire. Bruno was eventually made Archbishop of Cologne, and Duke of Lotharingia not long after. Bruno united these roles of both temporal and spiritual authority with great sanctity and skill. He loyally served his brother the Emperor, acting as a mediator in several conflicts, while maintaining order and piety in his own archdiocese and duchy, making Cologne a great center of Christian civilization. He patronized clerical education, supported monasteries and other institutions, and founded the Monastery of St. Pantaleon. He died in Rheims while on a diplomatic journey in the year of Our Lord 965, and was buried in the church of St. Pantaleon according to his wishes.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for October 11th

AT Tarsus, in Cilicia, the birthday [into heaven] of the holy martyrs Tharacus, Probus, and Andronicus, who endured a long and painful imprisonment, during the persecution of Diocletian, and being three times subjected to diverse punishments and tortures, finally obtained a glorious triumph for the confession of Christ by having their heads struck off.

In Vexin, in the time of the governor Fescenninus, the passion of the holy martyrs Nicasiuc, bishop of Rouen, Quirinus, priest, Scubiculus, deacon, and Pientia, virgin.

Also, the martyrdom of the Saints Anastasius, priest, Placidus, Genesius, and their companions.

In Thebais, St. Sarmata, disciple of the blessed abbot Anthony, who was put to death for Christ by the Saracens.

At Besancon, in France, St. Germanus, bishop and martyr.

At Uzes, in Narbonese Gaul, St. Firminus, bishop and confessor.

In Ireland, St. Kenny, abbot.

At Lier, in Belgium, the departure from this life of St. Gummarus, confessor.

At Rennes, St. AEmilian, confessor.

At Tarsus, in Cilicia, the holy women Zenaides and Philonilla, sisters, who were relatives of the blessed apostle Paul, and his disciples in the faith.

At Verona, St. Placidia, virgin.

At Calotium, a place now in the diocese of Asti, but formerly in that of Pavia, St. Alexander Sauli, bishop and confessor, of the congregation of Barnabites, a man illustrious by birth, learning and miracles.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.