TODAY'S SAINT

June 26

Anthelm (ca. 1105-07-1178)

Carthusian monk and bishop

Little is known of this saint's early life. Anthelm was born ca. 1105-07 at Chignin Castle, six miles from the town of Chambery, to nobility. Although he had chosen a life in the Church from an early age, he was more attracted to the things of this world, rather than the next, and pursued ecclesiastical positions to enhance his prestige. A visit to relatives at the Carthusian monastery at Portes changed his life, however, and he entered the stricct order of St. Bruno in 1137.

Not long into his novitate, Anthelm was sent to help rebuild the monstery at Grande Chartreuse, which had been nearly destroyed in anavalanche. His gifts for organization and business soon restored the life and prosperity of the mmonastey. He brought water to the monastry with an aqueduct and rennewedd the farmlands and sheepfolds. When Hugh I resigned aas prior of the nomastery in 1139, Anthelm succeeded him. Throughout these activities Anthelm enforced the Carthusiam rule and organized the various monasteries-previously answereable only to the bishop--into a unified order, calling the first general chapter about 1140. Grande Chartreuse became the mother house and Anthelm the first minister general. Anthelm's skills and reputation brought many new monk into the order, including his father, a brother, andf William, count of Nivernais.

Anthelm resigned his post in 1152, hoping to retire insolitude, but succeeded Bernard, prior of Portes monastery, as abbot instead.The monks at Portes had become very prosperous-- to prosperous, Anthelm believed, for an order with rules of poverty. He gave away most of the grain stores and evven sold church ornaments for alms.

Two years later Anthelm returned to Grande Chartreuse, longing for the contemplative life, but was again called to service. In 1159 two popes vied for legitimacy: Alexandere III (r. 115-81), supported by King Louis VII of France and most of the bishops, and Victor IV, the favorite of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Anthelm threw himself into the argument and, along with Geoffrey, the Cisterciaan abbot of Hautecombe, recruited both clergy and nobility from France, Spain and England in support of Alexander. In gratitude, Alexander II appointed Anthelm as bishop of Belley, much against Anthelm"s wishes, in September 1163.

Bishop Anthelm energetically promoted reform of his diocese. In his first synod he encouraged, the priests and clergy to return to celibacy; many priests had married. When after two years he still found lapsed celibattes he deprived them of their benefices. He tolerated no opression or disorder from the laity, either, standing firm against the intrusion of secular kings into ecclesiastical afairs. Alexander III even sent him to England to try to mediate a truce between with no success. Anthelm's flock so loved him that for a time the town of Belley was renamed Anthelmopolis.

Anthelm died at age 72 on June 26, 1178. He had devoted his last years to the Carthusian order and two other institutions: a women's community at bons and a leper house, His tomb at Grande Chartreuse quickly became known for its miraculous poweres; St. Hugh of Loncoln visited the shrine before he died in 1200.

Anthelm is depicted in art with a lamp lit by a divine hand.

PRAYER:

God, You made Your Bishop St. Anthelm an

outstanding minister of Your Church by his

prayer and pastoral zeal. Through his prayers

grant that Your faithful flock may always find

pastors after Your heart and salutary pastures.

Amen.