Saint Romuald

His life:

+ Romuald was born in Ravenna, Italy. Hoping to escape the violence of the world around him, he became a monk in the abbey of Sant’ Apollinaire when he was 20 years old.

+ At the age of 23, Romuald traveled to Venice and began to live as a hermit, hoping for a stricter way of life. After 10 years, he began to travel throughout Italy, establishing communities of hermits, creating a new form of Benedictine life.

+ In 1012, with Saint Peter Damian, he established a new monastery at Camoldoli and wrote a new rule for monks based on the ancient Rule of Saint Benedict.

+ Saint Romuald died on June 19, 1027.

For prayer and reflection:

“The mouth of the just man utters wisdom, and his tongue tells forth what is right. The law of God is in his heart.”—Entrance Antiphon from the Mass “For an Abbot”

Prayer

O God, who through Saint Romuald renewed
the manner of life of hermits in your Church,
grant that, denying ourselves and following Christ,
we may merit to reach the heavenly realms on high.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.