Saint of the day June 19: Saint Romualdo. Catholic Saints

Every June 19, the Church celebrates Saint Romualdo Abbot, a 10th century monk, founder of the Camaldolese Congregation of the Order of Saint Benedict, known as the Order of the Camaldula. Romuald was one of the most important figures in the renewal of hermitage monasticism (hermitism).

“Beloved Christ Jesus, you are the greatest consolation that exists for your friends!” exclaimed Abbot Romualdo, highlighting that inevitable dimension of human existence that is suffering and that, even if we try to silence or sweeten it, we always It touches the soul at some point in life. It is precisely in pain when Christ Jesus appears to give relief and comfort. Therefore, Romualdo knew very well that He, Jesus, is the perfect friend.

Moral conscience, preamble to faith

Saint Romualdo was born in Ravenna (Italy) in the second half of the 10th century, into an aristocratic family. He received a pagan education, lacking any Christian imprint, so he grew up full of worldly aspirations and prejudices against Christianity. However, it is said that in the midst of the life he led, from time to time, he felt concerns about a different life, when not, his conscience simply pressed him for something he had done, without knowing why. .

The sign of tragedy (and sin)

After seeing how his father killed a man in a duel, Romualdo’s life turned upside down: he decided to look for a different path, away from the horror he had witnessed. That tragedy had stained the hands of the one he had loved the most with blood and his interior longed for a justice superior to the law of retaliation.

That was the decisive impulse to consider a life close to God, whom he began to know. As this knowledge increased, Romuald felt more attracted to religious life and, after some time meditating, he asked to be accepted into a Benedictine monastery. Little by little, in that monastery, he confirmed the call that God had always made to him and that for a long time he did not want to listen to.

Romualdo lived happily and at peace with himself in the monastery while he became a kind of inspiration or example for his brother monks, given his simplicity and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, not all of them appreciated him, some even – prisoners of envy or excessive jealousy – fell out with him and harassed him for years. One of those monks, a man of rough and harsh spirit, was named Marinus, who was a true cross for Romualdo.

Friendship in the Lord

However, God helped Marino’s attitude change. He granted both monks the opportunity to work together and overcome prejudices and indispositions. In the end they forged a friendship.

Romualdo and Marino provoked many conversions, among them that of the civil and military leader of Venice, the Dux (governor), who would also become a monk. That man was neither more nor less than Saint Peter Urseolo (928-987).

Another of the great conversions that God worked through Romualdo was that of his own father. Who had previously allowed Romualdo to grow up without God, now asked Him for mercy, by virtue of the prayers and perseverance of his son. The turn that Abbot Romualdo’s father took was such that, without paying much attention to his age, he embraced the faith and entered monastic life, living in silence and prayer until the end of his days.

Resisting temptation

One of the most difficult struggles that Saint Romuald fought throughout his life was against lust. Even away from the world, the temptations against purity returned, and sometimes very strongly.

The Enemy presented him with impudent and frightening images. He knew very well that his past could be used to break his faith. So, since the abbot did not consent, he then decided to discourage him, making him believe that the life of prayer, silence and penance that he led was actually something useless. Happily, with persevering and tenacious prayer, supported by grace, Romualdo emerged victorious and fearlessly embraced that cross that he had to carry.

A simple prayer or ejaculation with which the monk came out in front of the diabolical attacks was this: “Merciful Jesus, have mercy on me.” The demon, seeing that Romualdo did not give in and that by repeating it he loved Jesus more, he had no choice but to retreat, ruminating about his defeat.

Reform of monastic life

In 1012, Saint Romuald founded the Order of the Camaldula, whose members call themselves “Camaldolese.” The purpose was the reform of Benedictine life through the recovery of asceticism.

According to tradition, the saint had a vision of a ladder on which his brothers and disciples ascended to heaven dressed in white. His initial idea had been for his monks to dress in black, but that vision inspired him to change his decision and order them to wear white.

At the end of his life the saint developed a deep mystical unity with Christ. On certain occasions, God even allowed him to see the future, as was the case with his own death, which he announced in advance. With his spirit placed in the hands of God, he left for the Father’s House on June 19, 1027.

Today, the “Camaldolese” are grouped into two congregations, that of Camaldoli, integrated into the Benedictine Confederation; and the “reformed” one of Monte Corona, founded by Blessed Pablo Giustiniani, who restored Camaldolese life in its eremitic and austere form. The latter have monasteries in Italy, Poland, Spain, the United States, Colombia and Venezuela.

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If you want to know more about Saint Romuald, we recommend this article from the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_Romualdo.