Bruno, Bishop of Segni
Encyclopedia
Saint Bruno Bishop of Segni and Abbot of Montecassino, is an Italian Catholic saint.
Born at Solero (in today’s Province of Alessandria
, Piedmont
) between 1045 and 1049, he was educated in a monastery near his birthplace and at Bologna
, became a canon at Sienna
, and came to Rome
in 1079. Here he came in contact with the leaders of the Church, and must have soon attracted the attention of Gregory VII
, if it is true that it was at his request that he disputed with Berengar
on the Eucharist
. In any case he accomplished his task so well that the pope made him Bishop of Segni in the Campagna
the same year.
He was even more closely connected with Urban II, whom he accompanied to France
in 1095. In 1099, he entered the monastery of Monte Cassino
, but without resigning his see or severing his relations with the outside world. He undertook an important mission to France for Paschal II in 1106, and remained with the pope for some time after his return, finally going back to his cloister, where he was elected abbot in 1107. Paschal made no objection to this pluralism until in the conflicts of 1111 Bruno took the part of the antipope Maginulf (Sylvester IV), and was forced to resign his abbacy and return to Segni.
Lucius III canonized him in 1181. His works are principally exegetical. His Libellus de symoniacis, written before 1109, is important for its discussion of the meaning of simony
, and especially for its attitude on the sacraments of a simoniacal priest.
He died at Segni
on July 18, 1123.
Born at Solero (in today’s Province of Alessandria
Province of Alessandria
The Province of Alessandria is an Italian province, with a population of some 430,000, which forms the southeastern part of the region of Piedmont. The provincial capital is the city of Alessandria....
, Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
) between 1045 and 1049, he was educated in a monastery near his birthplace and at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, became a canon at Sienna
Sienna
Sienna is a form of limonite clay most famous in the production of oil paint pigments. Its yellow-brown colour comes from ferric oxides contained within...
, and came to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1079. Here he came in contact with the leaders of the Church, and must have soon attracted the attention of Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
, if it is true that it was at his request that he disputed with Berengar
Berengar
Berengar is a masculine name, of some popularity among certain noble families during the Middle Ages, especially the Unruochings and those related. Bérenger is the French form and Berengario the Italian. The Latin form is Berengarius. The name is ultimately derived from Germanic roots meaning...
on the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. In any case he accomplished his task so well that the pope made him Bishop of Segni in the Campagna
Campagna
Campagna is a small town and comune of the province of Salerno, in the Campania region of Southern Italy.-History:The town, located in a mountainous district, gradually lost importance in the 20th century...
the same year.
He was even more closely connected with Urban II, whom he accompanied to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1095. In 1099, he entered the monastery of Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
, but without resigning his see or severing his relations with the outside world. He undertook an important mission to France for Paschal II in 1106, and remained with the pope for some time after his return, finally going back to his cloister, where he was elected abbot in 1107. Paschal made no objection to this pluralism until in the conflicts of 1111 Bruno took the part of the antipope Maginulf (Sylvester IV), and was forced to resign his abbacy and return to Segni.
Lucius III canonized him in 1181. His works are principally exegetical. His Libellus de symoniacis, written before 1109, is important for its discussion of the meaning of simony
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
, and especially for its attitude on the sacraments of a simoniacal priest.
He died at Segni
Segni
Segni is an Italian town and comune located in Lazio. The city is situated on a hilltop in the Lepini Mountains, and overlooks the valley of the Sacco River.-Early history:...
on July 18, 1123.