ST. BRUNO of COLOGNE, (1030-1101), founder of the Carthusians, close advisor of his former pupil, Pope Urban II.
"Our life is like that woman who seemingly wastes oil on the feet of Jesus. When you love you can also do something foolish; the most beautiful and significant follies are done for love."
"We give our life, we waste it for Jesus, for God, because we felt He called us. It's a calling of love and we reply with love; but with this waste, breaking the vase as the Scriptures say, the perfume is spread in all the house. I think the perfume of our life spreads in all the Church, in all the world."
“I believe the sacraments which the Church believeth, and in particular that the bread and wine consecrated on the altar are the true Body of our Lord Jesus Christ; His true Flesh, and His true Blood, which we receive for the remission of our sins, and in the hope of eternal life.”
"By your work you show what you love and what you know."
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From a letter to his Carthusian sons by Saint Bruno, priest
My spirit rejoices in the Lord
From the frequent and pleasant reports of our most blessed brother, I know of your reasoned and truly praise-worthy discipline, carried out with unwavering rigor.Since I have heard of your holy love and constant pursuit of honesty and virtue, my spirit rejoices in the Lord.I rejoice and am drawn to praise and give thanks to God, and still I long to love him. I rejoice, as I should, in the growing fruits of your strength, and yet I grieve and grow ashamed that I lie idle and senseless in the mire of my sins.
Therefore rejoice my dearest brothers, because you are so blessed and because of the bountiful hand of God's grace upon you. Rejoice, because you have escaped the various dangers and shipwrecks of the stormy world. Rejoice, because you have reached the quiet and safe anchorage of a secret harbor. Many wish to come into this port, and many make great efforts to do so, yet do not achieve it. Indeed many, after reaching it, have been thrust out, since it was not granted them from above.
Therefore, my brothers, you should consider it certain and well-established that whoever partakes of this desireable good, should he in any way lose it, will grieve to his death, if he has any regard or concern for the salvation of his soul.
My dearest lay brothers, of you I say:My soul magnifies the Lord.For I have learned of the generosity of his mercy toward you from the report of your prior and dearest father; he rejoices and takes great pride in you. And let us rejoice that since you are unacquainted with the knowledge of letters, almighty God will inscribe in your hearts with his finger not only his love but also the knowledge of his holy law. By your work you show what you love and what you know. When you observe true obedience with prudence and enthusiasm, it is clear that you wisely pick the most delightful and nourishing fruit of divine Scripture.