St. Romuald was born at Ravenna, in Italy, and left the world at the age of 20 (Gospel) to give himself up in prayer and meditation (Introit) to the work of penance undertaken by Jesus.
Attacked by Satan, who tried to ensnare him, he always drove him away in terror (Epistle). He enjoyed over princes and kings a great influence (ibid.) which he used for the good of souls.
Like the Patriarch Jacob, he saw in a vision a ladder which reached from earth to heaven, on which ascended and descended monks clothed in white. This happened in Tuscany on the field of a certain Maldoli. Romuald bought this "Campo Maldoli" and founded there the Monastery of "Camaldoli" and the "Camaldolese" branch of the Benedictine Order (Communion).
He died in 1027 at the age of 120 at Val de Castro in Piceno; his body, found intact five years later, was placed in the church of the monastery at Fabriano. St. Romuald always showed in the midst of his austerities a face so full of joy that those who saw him rejoiced. Let us imitate him in the holy season of Lent.
Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium: lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius. * Noli aemulari in malignantibus: neque zelaveris facientes iniquitatem.
The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgement: the law of his God is in his heart. * Be not emulous of evildoers: nor envy them that work iniquity.
(Psalm 36:30-31 and 1 from the Introit of Mass)
Intercéssio nos, quǽsumus, Dómine, beáti Romualdi Abbátis comméndet: ut, quod nostris méritis non valémus, ejus patrocínio assequámur.
May the intercession of the blessed Abbot Romuald, we beseech Thee, O Lord, commend us unto Thee, that what we cannot have through our own merits, we may obtain through his patronage.
(Collect)
From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13179b.htm
On the Camaldolese monks: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03204d.htm
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