Odo of Cluny facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Odo of Cluny
Odo of Cluny, 11th century miniature
Abbot
Born	c. 878 Le Mans, France
Died	18 November 942 Tours, France
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast	18 November 11 May
Patronage	Musicians, for rain, against drought

Odo of Cluny (born around 878 – died November 18, 942) was a very important leader in the Christian Church. He became the second abbot of Cluny Abbey in France. Odo is famous for starting the Cluniac Reforms, which were big changes to how monasteries worked in France and Italy. Both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches honor him as a saint. His special day is November 18.

We know about Odo's life mostly from a book called Vita Odonis, written by his student, John of Salerno.

Early Life and Education

Odo was born in about 878. His father, Abbo, was a powerful lord near Le Mans, France. His parents had wanted a child for a long time. A story says that on Christmas Eve, his father prayed to Our Lady for a son. When Odo was born, his grateful father gave the boy to the Church of St. Martin in Tours. Later, both of Odo's parents became monks and nuns themselves. His brother, Bernard, also became a monk.

As a child, Odo first served at the court of Count Fulk the Good. Then, he became a page for Duke William the Pious. Odo especially loved and prayed to Mary, calling her "Mother of Mercy."

Studying at Tours

When Odo was 19, he joined the Church of St. Martin in Tours. This church was a very holy place. For six years, Odo studied many subjects there, including old writings, poetry, and music.

Odo noticed that the monks at St. Martin's had become too focused on wealth. They had stopped following their rules. He saw that they even avoided going to night prayers because they didn't want to get their nice shoes dirty. This experience made Odo want to bring back stricter rules to monasteries.

In 901, Odo went to Paris to study theology and philosophy for four years. When he returned to Tours, he lived a very strict and simple life.

Becoming a Monk

One day, Odo read the Rule of Saint Benedict, which is a guide for monks. He realized his life was not as disciplined as it should be. He decided to become a monk. His patron, the Count of Anjou, did not want him to. So, Odo spent almost three years living simply in a small room with one friend.

Finally, Odo decided nothing would stop him from becoming a monk. He left his position at Tours and secretly went to Beaume Monastery. There, Abbot Berno welcomed him. Odo brought only his books, about a hundred of them.

Life at Baume Monastery

Around 909, Odo officially joined Baume Monastery. Abbot Berno led this monastery. Berno had already made other monasteries follow the Rule of Saint Benedict more strictly.

Bishop Turpio of Limoges asked Odo to become a priest. Odo was sad about this, but he had to obey. Odo and the bishop talked about the problems in the Church. Odo spoke so wisely that the bishop asked him to write down his thoughts. Odo wrote his second book, called Collationes.

Odo also became the head of the school at Baume.

Leading Cluny Abbey

In 910, Abbot Berno left Baume to start a new monastery called Cluny Abbey. He took some monks with him. When Berno died in 927, Odo was almost 50 years old. Berno had given control of three monasteries to Odo: Deols, Massay, and Cluny. The monks of Cluny chose Odo to be their abbot. At first, he felt he wasn't worthy, but he accepted after the bishop insisted.

When Odo became abbot, Cluny Abbey was still being built. He faced money problems. Odo prayed to Saint Martin of Tours for help. A story says that one day, an old man appeared and told Odo he was St. Martin. He promised that money would come if the monks kept working hard. A few days later, a large amount of gold was given to Cluny.

Odo continued to make sure the monks at Cluny followed the Benedictine Rule very closely. During his time as abbot, Cluny was protected by both popes and rulers, which helped it stay independent. The monastery also received many gifts of land. The main church of Cluny, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, was finished during his leadership.

Odo taught his monks to be kind to everyone, especially the poor. He said that the blind and the disabled were like "porters of the gates of paradise." If a monk was ever rude to a beggar, Odo would call the beggar back and tell him, "When he who has served you thus, comes himself seeking entrance from you at the gates of paradise, repay him in like manner." Cluny was known for its great charity, giving food to thousands of people in need each year.

Spreading Monastic Reform

After Berno died, Odo began to reform other monasteries. He helped places like Romainmoutier and St. Michael's Abbey return to the original Benedictine Rule. This rule focused on prayer, manual work, and living together under a spiritual leader. Odo believed that a true monk must love silence, which helps a person connect with God.

A story Odo told his monks was about two monks from Tours who didn't wear their monk's robes. One of them got very sick. His friend had a vision where he saw Saint Benedict in heaven. Benedict said he didn't recognize the sick monk's robe and couldn't help him. The friend then wrapped his own monk's robe around the sick monk, and Benedict healed him. This story taught the importance of following the rules, including wearing the proper habit.

In 930, Odo reformed Fleury Abbey. This abbey held the bones of St. Benedict, but its monks had become undisciplined. When Odo arrived, the monks were armed and threatened him. After three days, Odo rode towards the monastery on his donkey, and the monks put down their weapons.

Odo temporarily led Fleury and reformed it. The monks resisted the rule against eating meat. They hoped Odo would run out of fish and have to give them meat. But Odo always found fish. A story says that one day, St. Benedict appeared to a sleeping monk at Fleury. Benedict told him that no monk from Fleury had gone to heaven since it was founded. He also told the monk to fish in the marsh instead of the river. The monks did, and caught many fish.

In 931, Pope John XI gave Odo special permission to reform monasteries in other areas. This allowed Odo to bring many abbeys under his guidance. Cluny became a model for monasteries for over a hundred years. It greatly changed how people thought about religious devotion in Europe.

Odo also reformed many other monasteries, including St. Martial's in Limoges and Jumièges Abbey in Normandy. These reformed monasteries then went on to reform and start even more monasteries.

Odo's Journeys to Italy

Many monasteries in Italy were empty because of attacks by invaders. Local nobles often took over monastery lands. Between 936 and 942, Odo visited Italy several times.

Odo first came to Rome in 936. He helped bring back monastic life in central Italy. Several Roman monasteries were rebuilt. Odo restored St Paul's Outside the Walls, which became his main base in Rome. A palace was turned into Our Lady on the Aventine monastery. Other monasteries were also restored. When monks at St. Andre's resisted the Benedictine Rule, Odo replaced them with new monks. He also brought order to the monastery at Farla, where monks had completely abandoned their rules.

Odo sent his student Baldwin to restore Monte Cassino, another important monastery that had been abandoned. Odo's influence reached as far as Naples and Benevento. In northern Italy, St. Peter's in Pavia was also reformed by one of Odo's students.

A story tells of Odo visiting a monastery where monks resisted the rule against eating meat. His student struggled to find enough fish. When Odo visited, a stream miraculously appeared from a nearby mountain, filled with fish.

Odo also acted as a peacemaker between powerful leaders in Italy.

Tales of Odo's Journeys

One story says that Odo was crossing the Alps in deep snow. His horse slipped, and both fell over a cliff. But Odo caught a tree branch and held on until help arrived.

Another tale says that forty robbers tried to attack him on the road. Odo kept walking and singing psalms. One robber said, "Let us leave them alone... If we attack them it will be the worse for us." The robbers argued, and Odo continued on his way unharmed. The first robber later became Odo's student.

Later Life and Legacy

In 942, Odo fell ill in Rome. Feeling that he was going to die, he decided to return to France. He stopped at the monastery of St. Julian in Tours for a special feast day. He developed a fever and died on November 18. During his illness, he wrote a hymn in honor of Saint Martin. He was buried in the church of Saint Julian. Later, many of his remains were burned by Protestants during a conflict. His feast day is November 18.

Pope Benedict XVI said that even though Odo was a strict reformer, he was also very kind. His biographer, John of Salerno, wrote that Odo often asked children he met to sing for him and would give them small gifts. Odo was a strong leader who helped his monks and the people of his time grow in their faith.

Writings

Odo wrote several important works:

• A commentary on a book by Pope Gregory I.
• A biography of Saint Gerald of Aurillac.
• Three books of Collationes, which were strong moral essays.
• Some sermons.
• An epic poem about the Redemption called Occupatio.
• Three hymns and twelve songs in honor of Saint Martin of Tours.
• Some scholars think he might have written a music theory book called Musica enchiriadis.

A story tells that Odo was writing notes in a book about St. Martin. One night, a rainstorm flooded the cellar where the book was. The next day, the monks found that only the edge of the book was wet; all of Odo's writing was untouched. Odo gave thanks to God and St. Martin for this.

Veneration

Odo is honored in the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church on:

• November 18 – his main commemoration day.
• April 29 or May 11 – a day to remember four important abbots of Cluny (Odo, Maiolus, Odilo, Hugh).

See also

• Hugh of Anzy le Duc – an early abbot who started reforms.
• List of Catholic saints
• Cluniac reforms