Saint Odo of Cluny

Life story

Odo was born around 878 or 879, probably near Le Mans. He spent some time at the court of the duke of Aquitaine, became a canon at the church of Saint Martin in Tours, and studied in Paris from 901. Around 909 he entered the abbey of Baume under Abbot Berno and became head of its school. When Berno moved to Cluny in 910, Odo followed.

After Berno's death he became abbot of Cluny around 927. In 931 Pope John XI granted him a privilege to reform monasteries in Aquitaine, northern France and Italy, allowing him to unite several abbeys under his supervision and to receive monks from unreformed abbeys at Cluny. Most reformed monasteries stayed independent, though some became centres of reform.

Between 936 and 942 he made several journeys to Italy. In Rome he founded Our Lady on the Aventine and reformed several houses, among them Subiaco and Monte Cassino. He was also sometimes given diplomatic tasks, such as arranging peace between King Hugo of Italy and Alberic of Rome.

He left a life of Saint Gerald of Aurillac, three books of Collationes (moral essays), a few sermons, an epic poem on the Redemption called the Occupatio, and twelve antiphons in honour of Saint Martin. He died on 18 November 942 at Tours after a fever and was buried in the church of Saint Julian.

Works and witness

• Headed the school at Baume abbey, then followed Abbot Berno to Cluny
• Became abbot of Cluny around 927
• Received a privilege from Pope John XI in 931 to reform monasteries
• Reformed houses in Italy, including Subiaco and Monte Cassino
• Wrote a life of Saint Gerald, the Collationes and the epic Occupatio

Saints from the same country

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Louis IX of France, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Francis de Sales

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1911), entry St. Odo (New Advent, cathen/11209a)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.