The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-08-15
Peter Of Cluny.

Peter Maurice of Cluny surnamed the Ven
CRADLE sprung from one of the most noble fam
lilies in Auvergne, was devoted to God by his
parents from very tender age, in the monas-
terry of Cluny. He received there with
the greatest joy by st. Hugo, who, seeing his
,,iant s.a
astery in the thirtieth year of his age, he sup
pressed the schism of Po9tias, his predecessor,
who in his absence, had with armed band
made himself master of the estates, etc, of
this same monastery of Cluny. Afterwards, by
the permission of the Sovereign Pontih he held
in 1l32 a general chapter of his order, at which
We're present two hundred prioFs and twelve
hundred religious, On this occasion he re-
formed several abuses which had crept in, is
sued rules which were to be exactly observed,
and increased the severity of punishments for
breach of discipline which he however after
wards tempered with mldness.
Finally, after having ruled his monastery for
the space of thirty-five years with the greatest
wisdom, prudence and meekness, he passed to
his eternal rest on his birthday III the year
1156, and w2s buried in the great church by
Arriyo, Bishop of Winchester, brother of Ste
phen, king of England. He displayed great
learning several books which he wrote
against tho Jews and against fsteT de Bruys,
whom he confuted with innumeTable argu-
neuts and with masculine efefIucnce in mnny
letters addressed to different sovereigns, as
also in dissertations and commentaries on the
Holy Scriptures. His devotion to the Virgin
Mary was remarkable, and he is never weary
of praising her in the most tender and affec-
tiohate style. Speaking of the invincible pa
tience of Mary, he shows her to US in the drama
of Jews and Gentiles, in tue fields of the cares
and anXieties of lfe, like a lily which springs
up aud grows admirably amidst thorns; the
malice of the Gentiles and the perfidious
tongues of the jews being alike powerless to
change her cnndor and innocence, to pre-
vent the most sweet perfume which ditfused
itself from her Utmost heart. So, the more she
was afflicted by their tongues, the more re-
markable did her patience appear; and the
more the Affections of her own mind the
prosecutions of her enemies stung her, the less
did her candor and sweet perfume suffer, since
her candor was visible even amid thick dark
ness, and her sweet perfume not dimin-
ished by the cares and anxieties of life. 10
impress the devotion of Mary always still more
on the minds of the faithful, and TO render the
renown of her merits more widely extended,
he does not content himself with calling her
tho highest, and more than heavenly Virgin,
but he calls her Virgin full of Grace, full of
God, full of the Holy Ghost and of the virtue
of the Most High. Virgo pteRG grdttd, pteRd
Deo PieRG Spirita SdRctO ct rrtHte Gttissmi.
And as If he were in the place of the angel who
brought to her the message of God, he pro-
claims her to all nations, declaring her to be
the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, the pure
mother, and full of the Holy Ghost by whom
she conceived, full of the power of the Most
cloud in that mystic wed2ock, and full of grace
as the means chosen by God to reform the
ture of man. Mater ctrgo et mater Christi, mater
iRtactd, Ra'er SaBctG Encouraging sinners to
have recourse to the Virgin Mary in the same
manner as the righteous seek her in the adora-
BILE name of Jesus, he discovers to them the
immense worth and dignity of the name of
when armies put to flight By their enemies,
cover their security in fortified towers, and
from undeTstheir protection resist and slaugh-
ter them, just so sinners flying from the at