Course 3, Chapter 34

Christianity preserved and propagated. — Founding of the great St. Bernard. — The Camaldulenses established. — Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury. — Eleventh Century.

1. Who were the principal saints of the eleventh century?

Besides those whose history we have already given, the principal saints of the eleventh century were St. Henry, emperor of Germany; St. Stephen, king of Hungary, and St. Emeric his son; St. Glaus, king of Norway; who show us the effect produced by the reform of morals, and teach us that the church has at all times been full of vigor and of life.

2. What else teaches this beautiful truth?

The institution of the religious of the great St. Bernard also teaches us that the church has ever been full of strength and life.

3. Who was the founder of the great St. Bernard or Mount St. Bernard?

The founder was St. Bernard of Menthon, archdeacon of Aosta in Piedmont. Having learnt that on the summit of the Alps there was adored a famous statue of Jupiter, he went to the place, overturned the statae and built near the spot an establishment for the

310 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

reception of travelers who crossed those dangerous mountains. This establishment was called the hospice of the great St. Bernard.

4. What were the occupations of the religious who inhabited this convent V

The religious who inhabited it were constantly occupied in rendering aid to travelers; they sought for them under the snow, carried them to the convent, and bestowed upon them all the care and attention necessary to restore them to life. These religious led a verj austere life, and shortened their days by breathing the too keen atmosphere of these mountains.*

5. What other institution was founded about this time?

Another institution destined to give an example to the world and to expiate the sins of men, arose at this time in the order of the Camaldulenses. St. Romuald, its founder, was an Italian noble, whose youth was not the most regular; but, touched by the grace of God, he was converted, and practised in the desert the greatest austerities.

6. What was the effect of his sanctity?

The effect of his sanctity was to draw around him as his disciples, a number of princes and young noblemen and a great many of inferior rank.

7. What was their mode of life?

. They lived by the labor of their hands. Fasting, silence, prayer, all the virtues of the ancient soli taries were practised by St. Romuald and his disciples. This order has given to the church a great number of saints and illustrious personages, amongst others the late pope Gregory XVI.

8. What were the afflictions of the church during this century?

The principal afflictions of the church during

** This property was recently confiscated by the radical and barbarous government of Switzerland.*

tiX THIRD. 31 1

this century were: 1st, the heresy of Berengarius, archdeacon of the church of Anders, who dared deny the real presence of our Lord in the blessed sacrament, but he was refuted by the celebrated Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury; 2d, the schism of Michael Cerularius, patriarch of Constantinople, who fostered the seeds of dissension left by Photius in the minds of some of his followers. The Greeks did not, however, separate entirely from the church at this time; 3d, the persecutions of the Mahometans, who, becoming more formidable than ever, harassed the Christians of Egypt and Palestine.