April 29th - St. Robert of Molesme, OSB Cist. Abbot (RM)
Born near Troyes, Champagne, France, in 1018; died on March 21, 1110;
canonized
in 1222. Born of noble parents, Robert was one of the founders of the
Cistercian
movement, which, like the monks of Cluny in the 10th century, was of
Benedictine
stock. The Rule of Saint Benedict had lost none of its value since its
foundation in Italy in the 6th century. Absolute fidelity to this rule,
and
its
greatest possible extension in the religious life were the two aims Robert
pursued throughout his life.
Saint Alberic joined Robert in this pursuit, followed by Saint Stephen
Harding.
But would they have taken the initiative without Robert? Or would they
have
postponed it. Or might they not have become discouraged while en route?
For
Robert was endowed with an uncommon will to overcome all obstacles.
There was no lack of obstacles. Like Stephen Harding, Robert had received
Benedictine training at Moutier-La-Celle beginning when he was 15. He was
appointed prior soon after his novitiate, then abbot of Saint Michael of
Tonnerre at a very early age. He was unsuccessful in his attempts to
reform
the
abbey. The scandals at the abbey were the motivation behind Robert's
activity.
How did it happen that the Benedictines had forgotten Saint Benedict and
his
rule to this extent? It was not that the rule was antiquated but men who
were
wicked, and his first desire was to convince them of their error. But
since
they
did not listen to him, his second desire was to leave. "But whatever town
you
enter, and they do not receive you- go out into the streets and say, 'Even
the
dust from your town, that we shake off against you'" (Luke 10:10-11).
Robert returned to Moutier-La-Celle, after having learned about a little
group
of seven hermits in the forest of Collan, near Tonnerre, whom he greatly
desired
to join and who in turn wanted him to live with them. But Robert first of
all
owed obedience to the abbot of Moutier-La-Celle who sent him to
Saint-Ayoul.
Nothing less than a decree issued by Pope Alexander II was required before
Robert and the hermits could come together again; the decree appointed him
their
superior. But they did not last long in Collan, since Robert decided to
leave
that unhealthy site for a more salubrious setting in the forest of
Molesmes
(c.
1075).
It was there at Molesmes that Robert met Stephen Harding. For Stephen
Harding,
as for posterity, Robert was always to be known as Robert of Molesmes.
What
Robert accomplished there, what Stephen saw there was the model, in
miniature
but perfect, of what the Cistercians were to become later: cells, which
were
mere huts grouped around a chapel that was really an oratory, and men who
formed
a little republic according to the Spirit, governed by an elected abbot,
and
who
had given themselves as a constitution the famous Benedictine Rule.
These men, who spent their days divided into alternate periods of silence
and
common prayer, of contemplation and manual labor, had greater dependence
on
God
than on the world. They practiced the evangelical counsels-poverty,
chastity,
and obedience-and found that they were both viable and profitable,
enabling
them
to live in an atmosphere of peace and joy.
The austerity and holiness of the members of the rejuvenated community led
to a
great influx of ill-qualified candidates, and when Robert was unsuccessful
in
raising the standards to their previous level and stymied by the bishop of
Troyes, who caused its constitution to be violated. Robert once more shook
the
dust from his feet, leaving Alberic and Stephen Harding behind, to retire
to
a
hermitage at Or.
Recalled again to Molesmes, and again disgusted with the laxity of the
monks,
Robert, again shook the dust from his feet, this time took Alberic and
Stephen
Harding with him. They escaped the jurisdiction of the bishop of Troyes to
fall
under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Langres, and finally received
approval
from the archbishop of Lyons, the papal legate (in 1098), to found their
new
republic at Cīteaux, near Dijon, in the diocese of Chalon- sure-Saone,
which
gave its name to the order. The new community was dedicated to strict
observance
of the rule of Saint Benedict.
Robert was elected abbot in which post, however, he remained for just a
year
because the monks of Molesmes appealed to Rome and Urban II responded by
ordering Robert to return to Molesmes in 1099. It was in Molesmes,
regenerated
on the model of Cīteaux, that Robert died, after having governed this
abbey
for
nine years. But in Robert's mind Cīteaux and Molesmes were only
guideposts.
The Lord could have said to this man: "Your plans are grandiose but you
will
not
realize them all. Like Moses you will die before reaching the Promised
Land.
You
will be the inventor, the architect. Another will be the contractor, he
will
exploit your invention. Another will steal from you the title of founder,
this
man will be Bernard of Clairvaux.
"It was necessary that I concern myself with your personal sanctity. It is
not
the least of things that the first of the Cistercians be a saint. You will
not
have stolen this title of saint, and nobody will steal it from you. You
love
the
Truth, but you are not notable for your patience. You want to discover the
great
Benedictine current of spirituality at its source, you want to inundate
France
and Europe with it.
"You think that the truth which dwells in it is beautiful and good for all
men.
You count on the indwelling force of this truth to prevail by virtue of
its
appeal. You do not want to do violence to consciences. You want them to
feel
violence being done to them from within.
"But you forget that there are closed consciences which must be opened,
that
the
kingdom of truth does not arrive without a struggle. This is why I shall
place
obstacles in your path. You shall be bound by wills other than your own,
and
you
will go where you do not wish to go. But that which you will have done for
the
salvation of others, even without success, will at least be useful to your
own
salvation for without these self-imposed troublesome tasks, you would
never
have
become a saint" (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia).
Saint Robert is ****trayed in art as a Cistercian monk writing a book. He
may
also be shown with a cross and ring, and the arms of the abbey of Molesmes
by
him; or with Stephen Harding (Roeder).
Saint Quote:
"Learn, my Sisters, to suffer something for the love of God, without
letting
everyone know it"
-St. Teresa
On a Good Friday, the venerable Father Daponte asked Our Lord the favor
of
giving him a share in His sufferings. He answered by sending him fearful
pains
for the rest of his life, which he received with the greatest possible
joy.
Once
being asked how he felt, he replied: "Oh, how well God chastises this
sinner! I
tell you that except my head, no part of my body is without its own
particular
pain." A little while after, he repented of having said so much and made a
vow
never to reveal his sufferings to anyone, when he could conceal them
without
displeasing God.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)
Bible Quote
16 So let your light ****ne before men, that they may see your good works,
and
glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17 Do not think that I am come to
destroy
the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
(Matthew
5:16-17)
<><><><>
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH - The Benedictus
(Luke 1:68-79)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to wor****p him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the
Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to ****ne on those who dwell in darkness and the
shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace. AMEN.
<> Glory Be to the Father...
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