Vigils Reading – Holy Abbots of Cluny

FROM THE LIFE OF ST. ODO OF CLUNY

By John of Salerno5

It was about the feast of St. Martin, which feast we are accustomed to celebrate with an octave, and at the end of Lauds on the octave day, before it was light, and when all had retired to their beds to rest rather than to sleep, our father <Odo> used to relate that this vision was granted to a certain poor old man. He saw a venerable figure with white hair, wearing a splendid stole and acope, with a bishop’s crozier in his hand. Coming nearer, the figure began to inspect closely the structure of the monastery. When asked who he was and why he was inspecting the building, he said: “I am the one whose octave day the brethren are celebrating, and I have come to visit them. Tell them not to give up, but to carry on with the work they have begun.”… The brethren, therefore, delighted and feeling secure in the promise of such a one, began to give thanks to God with joyous hearts. Who the person was, who saw this vision, it is not for me to say, because it was our father’s custom deliberately never to describe his own person. But if anything had appeared to him, great or small, he described what he had seen in this way – one of our brethren, or a certain poor old man, saw this or that.

…Odo sometimes confessed that his means always sufficed both to feed the brethren and to give alms to the poor. Never did a poor man turn away empty from the bosom of his mercy. Whenever I went out with him he was always careful to ask if we had something for the poor, and if we had all that was necessary, he went on his way happily and without hesitation. And because he gave to all who asked of him, by the power of God all things were supplied to him.

He always had in mind that precept of Tobias: See that you turn not your face away from that time, and give to all who ask of you…

When he was on a journey he used to make any boys that he found on the road sing something and as though to pay their performance he would order them to be given a present… He used to speak in this way that we might be encouraged by their cheerfulness, and that they might profit by his mercy. For his words were full of joy and his speech used to make us laugh with delight. But always holding the reins of moderation in his hand, he would quote that chapter of the Rule which says, not to love much or violent laughter… So he restrained us while his spiritual joy filled our hearts with inward rejoicing. But what can one such as I say that is worthy of him, or what can I relate of such great happiness?… He was like a cornerstone with four faces, angelic and human, bountiful and pleasing, so that that seemed to be fulfilled in him daily which we read in the psalm: Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy and lendeth, and again as the Apostle Paul says: God loveth a cheerful giver