September 2nd - St. Brocard
This 12th century saint was of French ancestry and a hermit monk at Mount
Carmel, near the Fountain of Elias, in Palestine. The superior of this
community, St. Berthold, died about the year 1195 and Brocard or Burchard
as he
is sometimes known, was elected superior.
At this time in its history, the Carmelite hermit community had no common
rule
of life. Brocard approached St. Albert, the papal legate and Latin
Patriarch of
Palestine for assistance. St. Albert was a canon regular and at some time
between 1205 and 1210 he composed a brief, 16 chapter rule, which Brocard
imposed on the community. The rule obliged the hermits to live alone in
their
cell, to come together daily for Mass, to recite the Divine Office, to
sup****t
themselves with the work of their hands and to follow the observance of
poverty,
perpetual abstinence and silence. They were to be obedient to Brocard as
their
prior during his lifetime and to his successors.
In the early part of the 13th century, the 4th Lateran Council had passed
a
resolution that no new orders could be founded. The community at Mount
Carmel
was flouri****ng and spreading throughout Palestine. Attempts were made to
suppress it on the grounds that it had not received papal approval, but
only the
approval of the legate of Palestine. Tradition tells us that originally
Pope
Honorius III had intended to suppress the order, but in a dream or vision
was
asked by the Blessed Mother to approve their rule instead, which he did
about
the year 1226.
During this time of struggle, Brocard was a true example of prudence and
virtuous living. He took seriously the example of monasticism as lived by
Elias
and other Old Testament Prophets. Tradition tells us that he was
well-versed in
Scripture and that St. Albert planned to take him to the next Lateran
Council,
but Albert was murdered before the Council took place. Brocard died about
the
year 1231. He was revered for his holy life and is credited with the
healing and
conversion of a very prominent Moslem Emir, as well as with the
stabilization of
the new Carmelite community during its founding and subsequent expansion
throughout Palestine and beyond.
Quote:
All perfection is founded upon only two principles, by means of which,
with due
attention to the daily actions suited to our state, we shall certainly
arrive at
the summit and fullness of it. The first principle is a very low esteem
for all
created things, but, above all, for ourselves. This low esteem should
show
itself, in practice, by renouncing ourselves and all creatures; in our
hearts,
by a firm resolution; and in our lives, in such ways as may be suitable,
especially by manifesting contentment and cheerfulness when the Lord takes
from
us any good. The second principle is a very high esteem of God, which may
be
easily acquired by the light of faith, as He is Omnipotent, the Supreme
Good and
our End; as also because He has loved us so much, and is ever present with
us,
and guides us in all things, both as to nature and grace, and, in
particular,
has called us and leads us by a special vocation to a lofty perfection.
-Fr. Achille Gagliardi
Bible Quote
Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among nations: That we may
give
thanks to thy holy name, and may glory in thy praise. (Psalms 105:47)
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During this month of September which gives us the exaltation
of the Holy Cross on the fourteenth, it traditionally is a month
devoted to that sacred tree. The following are three prayers in
honor of the Cross of Christ:
The Cross is my sure salvation. The Cross it is that I wor****p
evermore. The Cross of our Lord is with me. The Cross is my
refuge.
-St. Thomas Aquinas
Assist us, O Lord our God; and defend us evermore by the
might of Thy holy Cross, in whose honor Thou makest us to
rejoice. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- from the Roman Missal
O God, Who didst will to hallow the standard of the life-giving
Cross by the Precious Blood of Thine only-begotten Son; grant,
we beseech Thee, that they who rejoice in honoring the same
holy Cross, may rejoice also in Thine ever-present protection.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
-Also from the Roman Missal
Imprimatur: + Francis Spellman, Archbp. of New York, May 30, 1951.
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