Portal:Catholic Church/Patron of the Day Archive/May 27 2007

Saint Bruno Bruno of Carinthia(died 27 May 1045) was prince-bishop of Würzburg from 1034 until his death. He was the son of, and served as counselor to his relative, Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Bruno was not formally canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, but is revered as a saint.

About 1005, Bruno was born as son of Conrad I, Duke of Carinthia. His uncle was Conrad II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He served as counselor to his relative. In 1027 he was promoted chancellor of Italy. Legend says, that Bruno shall have stopped an imperial army from besieging rebelling Milan In front of town, Bruno celebrated high mass for Pentecost. Suddenly, there was a terrible storm. When everyone was in panic, only Bruno remained untouched. After having finished the celebration of the high mass, he told the Emperor to have seen Saint Ambrose within the storm, asking for this seat of a bishop to be spared from destruction. The emperor stopped the hostilities and made peace.

On April 14. 1034 Bruno was consecrated prince bishop of Würzburg. He still remained politician, working for peace. He was a role model of a Christian head of state. He was a builder of schools and ordered the construction of the dome of Würzburg.

Voyaging to Hungary in the service of the emperor, Bruno rested at Persenbeug in Austria. The hall, where he ate collapsed and Bruno fell through the floor and was buried under the wreckage. Several days later he died of his wounds.

Beginning with the year 1200 there are reports of prayers at his grave leading to wondrous healing. Without success, in 1237/38 his successor as bishop of Würzburg tried to reach a formal canonization of Bruno. Nevertheless, in 1257 the corps of Bruno was transferred to the high grave, he was arose to the height of the saints, which was adequate to the formal canonization.