Bernone, Blessed

BERNONE, blessed. – Founder of Cluny, born ca. 850 to a noble family of Borgogna, died on 13 January 927. He entered the Benedictine abbey of S. Martino at Autun, where the reform of s. Benedetto di Aniane had been introduced. Through B., around 886 this reform was extended to the abbey of Baume and shortly thereafter (890) also to Gigny, another abbey founded by him. Having gone to Rome, he obtained from Pope Formoso that Gigny, together with its dependencies, be placed under the protection and immediate jurisdiction of the Holy See. B.’s name is principally associated with the celebrated abbey of Cluny, built at the request of Duke Guglielmo il Pio of Aquitaine and entrusted to B.’s direction; with the monks of Baume and Gigny, among whom was s. Oddone (v.), he also introduced there the customs of s. Benedetto di Aniane. The foundation charter of 11 September 909 (according to others, 910), also called the “testament of Guglielmo il Pio,” granted the monks freedom to choose their abbot after B.’s death; moreover, the abbey was placed under the direct dependence of the Holy See and declared exempt from interference by every secular power. Other monasteries were entrusted to B.; at his death he left their administration to his kinsman Guido, who governed Baume and Gigny, while Cluny and other dependencies went to Oddone, the true founder of Cluniac centralization.