Berno of Cluny facts for kids

Saint Berno of Cluny (born around 850 – died January 13, 927) was a very important religious leader. He was the first abbot of Cluny, a famous monastery, from when it started in 909 until he passed away in 927. Berno began a special movement called the Cluniac reforms. These reforms helped improve monasteries all over Europe.

Berno first became a monk at St. Martin's Abbey in Autun. Later, around 886, he joined Baume Abbey. In 890, he used his own land to start a monastery called Gigny. He also helped found others at Bourg-Dieu and Massay. In 910, William I of Aquitaine, who founded Cluny, chose Berno to be the abbot of this new monastery. Berno made sure Cluny followed the Benedictine rule. This rule was created by Benedict of Nursia and later updated by Benedict of Aniane.

Berno stepped down as abbot in 925. His monasteries were then shared between his relative Vido and his student Odo of Cluny. Berno is considered a saint, and his special day is celebrated on January 13.

Monasteries in Berno's Time

Long ago, Benedict of Nursia started a famous monastery at Monte Cassino. His ideas and rules for monks became very popular in Western Europe. However, over time, many monasteries changed. Some powerful lords started them just to retire there. They often made the rules less strict to suit themselves. For example, they might change prayer times so they could sleep more. There were no clear rules about fasting, so everyone did what they wanted.

Many monasteries even became like family property. They could be passed down or divided among family members. The original rule said monks should choose their abbot. But feudal lords often took this right for themselves. Monks sometimes saw their abbot more like a chieftain. When an abbot died, monks felt free to leave.

Charlemagne, a famous emperor, was interested in monasteries. He liked that they helped people learn and kept books safe. His son, Louis the Pious, asked Benedict of Aniane to fix the problems in monasteries. The goal was to bring them back to Benedict of Nursia's original strict rules. It was decided that the Rule of St. Benedict would be used in all monasteries. Benedict of Aniane was given the job of explaining how to follow it.

In the 800s and 900s, Viking raids caused a lot of trouble for monasteries. Buildings were destroyed, and monks had to run away for safety. Many monasteries that survived were controlled by powerful lords. These lords often kept the money for themselves. Monks in many places became very poor or left. In 909, bishops met and heard reports of lords living in monasteries with their families, guards, and even dogs!

This was the world Berno of Cluny lived in. Berno wanted to make monasteries better. He wanted them to follow the original Rule of St. Benedict again. He started a monastery on his own land. People heard about how well he managed it. Soon, he was asked to help fix other monasteries too.

Berno's Early Life and Work

Berno was born around 850 in a noble family from Burgundy. His father might have been Odon, a French nobleman. Odon gave shelter to monks from Glanfeuil Abbey after Vikings attacked their monastery in 862. Berno joined the Benedictine Abbey of St. Martin at Autun. There, Hugh of Anzy le Duc had already made the rules stricter.

Later, Berno was sent to fix the monastery of Baume-les-Messieurs. This monastery in Besançon had been neglected. In 890, Berno used his own money to start the monastery of St. Peter at Gigny. It was in the Jura Mountains, and he became its first abbot. Rudolph I of Burgundy supported him. In 894, Berno went to Rome. The Pope approved the rules for Gigny.

The monasteries at Gigny and Baume followed the rules as explained by Benedict of Aniane. He wanted to bring back the strictness of monastic life. His rules focused on prayer, quietness, and being alone. Some stories say Berno was sent to Baume by Abbot Hugh of Autun. This monastery did very well, and many monks joined. Berno became known for his holiness. He was then asked to lead Baume to reform it. Berno became abbot of Baume and brought back its good reputation.

Starting Cluny Monastery

In Berno's time, it was common for rich people to start monasteries. They would give money to build and support the monastery. In return, the monks would pray for them.

One story says that Berno had such a good reputation as abbot of Baume that William of Aquitaine gave him two monasteries: Deols and Massay. William knew Berno from his time at Baume. He supported those who wanted to make monasteries follow the Benedictine rule more strictly. The Duke wanted to start a new monastery and asked Berno to be its abbot.

One tale says William asked Berno where the new monastery should be. Berno asked the Duke to give his favorite hunting lodge in Cluny. This would be a real sacrifice for William. The Duke said, "No way! I can't get rid of my dogs!" Berno replied, "Get rid of the dogs and put monks there instead. Think about what God will give you for dogs, and what He will give you for monks!" William then gave part of his land in Cluny to Berno for the monastery. The monastery was officially started on September 11, 909.

William made sure that the monastery would be free from control by him, his family, or any other local power. It was placed directly under the authority of the Pope in Rome. The Pope accepted Cluny's rules. This was very important later on. It meant that no local bishop could stop Cluny's reform work. Cluny only answered to the Pope.

The Benedictine rule was to be followed very strictly. Cluny agreed to pay a small amount of gold to the Pope every five years. Anyone who broke the agreement that placed Cluny under Rome would face a terrible curse. The apostles Peter and Paul were asked to protect Cluny.

Berno's Final Days

By the time Berno died, he was in charge of six monasteries. These were Gigny, Baume, Aethicens (with St Lautenus), Deols, Massay, and Cluny. Before he passed away, he gave three monasteries (Gigny, Baume, and Aethicens) to one of his monks named Wido. He gave the other three (including Cluny) to another monk named Odo, who later became Saint Odo of Cluny.

On his deathbed, Berno strongly encouraged his monks to keep following the Benedictine Rule. He reminded them that this rule had often been ignored by other monasteries. He urged them to follow all the rules about being quiet, what to eat and drink, religious ceremonies, and most importantly, giving up personal belongings.

After Berno died, Wido tried to take Cluny away from Odo. But Pope John X stepped in and supported Odo in 928.

Sources

• Bautz, Friedrich Wilhelm, ed. (1975). "Berno of Cluny" (in de). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). 1. Hamm: Bautz. col. 542. ISBN 3-88309-013-1. http://www.bbkl.de/b/berno.shtml.
• Catholic.org: Saints
• Lucy Margaret Smith, The early history of the monastery of Cluny, Oxford University Press, 1920