Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 3.djvu/35

 BRUNNER

13

BRUNO

and, ascending the Ohio River, arrived at Cincinnati on New Year's Day. From Cincinnati they proceeded to St. Alphonsus, near Norwalk, Ohio, where the first station was erected. Their missionary circuit in- cluded all the Germans within a radius of 100 miles; they began to erect, convents and parishes and en- trusted the schools to t lie Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, who had followed them on the 22nd of July, 1844. After this Father Brunner made several trips to Europe in the interests of his institution, and it fl as during the last of these that he died. He was an indefatigable missionary and a very prolific writer on religious subjects. Many of his writings, all of which are in German, still await publication.

Leben una) Wirkm dea I'. F. S. Brunner (Carthagena, 1S82); Nuntius Aula, I-X.

U. F. Miller.

Brunner, Sebastian, a versatile and voluminous writer, b. in Vienna, 10 December, 1S14; d. there, 27 November, 1S93. He received his college educa- tion from the Benedictines of his native city, his philosophical and theological training at the Vienna University, was ordained priest in 1838, and was for some years professor in the philosophical faculty of the Vienna University. The University of Frei- burg honoured him with the degree of Doctor of Theology. In the revolutionary year, 1848, he founded the "Wiener Kirchenzeitung", which he edited until 18G5, and in which he scourged with incisive satire the Josephinist bondage of the Church. It is mainly owing to his fearless championship, which more than once brought him into conflict with the authorities, that the Church in Austria to-day breathes more freely. He wrote some asceti- cal books ami many volumes of sermons, also a biography of Clemens Hofbauer, the apostle of Vienna. His books <>f travel dealing with Germany. France. England, Switzerland, and especially Italy, are distinguished by keen observations on men and manners, art and culture, and most of all on religion, and are thus closely connected with his apologetic and controversial writings. Among the latter may be mentioned his book on " The Atheist Renan and his Gospel". Brunner's voluminous historical works are very valuable, particularly those on the history of the Church in Austria. It is, however, as a humorist that Brunner takes a permanent place in the history ol literature, for he counts among the best modern German humorous writers. His works of this class were composed partly in verse, which at times reminds the reader of Hudibras, and partly in the form of prose stories. One of the best of the former is " Der Ncbeljungen Lied"; of the latter, "Die Prinzenschule zu Mdpselgluek". These works, conceived with a high and noble pur- pose, are marked by brilliant satire, inexhaustible wit, and genuine humour, combined with great depth of feeling. A collection of his stories in prose and verse was published in eighteen volumes at RatisboE in 1864, I' is not surprising, though it is regrettable, that an author whose literary output vast and varied, often shows signs of haste and a lack of artistic finish. In his later years he turned his satirical pen against the undiscriminating worship of modern German Literary celebrities.

Autobiography) (Ratisbon. 1890-91); S, Bl e HI ii. Sebastian Brunner (Wiirzburg ami Vienna. 1890 ; L]NI>i:mann. Ijtsrhirhte <!' r tlnitsr/nn l.it>rntur [ Freiburg mi Br., 1S98), 93S. 939: AUgemeine deuUche Biographie, XLVII (Supplement. 190;

B. Gfl.DNER.

Bruno, Saint. Archbishop of Cologne, 1>. 925; d. at Reims, ii October, 965; was the youngest sou of Henry I of Germany (sumamed the Fowler) and St. Mathilda, and brother of the Emperor Otto I. He inherited his mother's piety and was even from boyhood destined for the Church. In his fourth year he was confided to the learned Bishop Bald-

erich in one of the Carlovingian collegiate schools at- tached to the cathedral at Utrecht. He read widely in Latin literature, classical and patristic; his pillow book, as Ruotger avers, was tlte Christian poet, Prudentius. Through some Greeks sojourning tit his brother's court, Bruno became proficient also in the Greek language, and he never lost his early love for learning. After a stay of ten years at Utrecht, he was recalled by Otto I in 939. From the beginning of Otto's reign, in 93(1, many learned men from Ger- many and abroad collected at his court; by the side of so characteristic a product of Carlovingian culture as Ratherius, Bishop of Verona, were Scots, Romans, and Greeks. From all, Bruno found much to learn. Soon he himself began to teach, and a notable re- nascence of higher studies ensued in the schools.

In 940, Bruno began to exercise the functions of imperial chancellor (Mon. Germ. Dipl., I, 120 nr. 35). After he had received deacon's orders in 941 or 912, the emperor appointed him, despite his youth, Abbot of the monasteries of Lorsch, near Worms, and of Corvei on the Weser. In both communities he soon restored the strict observance of St. Benedict's Rule. He was ordained priest about 950 and in 951 became archchancellor (Mon. Germ. Dipl., 1,218, nr. 138 sq.); even from the year 940 on, all Otto's state papers were prepared by Bruno's hand. As the executive administration of affairs was conducted chiefly through the royal chancery, Bruno's influence now extended to all parts of the empire. Relations be- tween Germany and France were by his good offices greatly improved. He took part in the Synod of Verdun, in 947, and assisted in the adjustment of the quarrel, of such consequence to the Kingdom of France, about the Archbishopric of Reims. In 951 he accompanied the Emperor Otto to Italy. In the troublous times which soon followed during the revolt of Ludolf, Otto's eldest son and heir-apparent, and Conrad, Duke of Lorraine, Bruno proved his loyalty and devotion to his brother. For this service, after the death (9 July, 953) of Wicfrid, Archbishop of Cologne, the emperor caused Bruno to be elected his successor in that see. and likewise entrusted to him the administration of the Duchy of Lorraine. On the 21st of September, the nobility of that province swore allegiance to Bruno at Aachen, and on the 25th he was consecrated and enthroned a1 Cologne. Through Bruno's mediation Ludolf was reconciled with his father, and the rebellion of Conrad effectually quelled. In the struggle between the last of the Carloving- ians and the rising house of Capet, Bruno's prestige enabled him to act, in the name of his imperial brother, as a supreme arbitrator in French affairs, countless disputes being satisfactorily settled by liis prudence and tact.

In Bruno's personality as prince-bishop, was rep- resented the perfect union of Church and State which was the corner-stone of the policy of Otto the Great; for Bruno, despite his tireless temporal activities, was a great bishop and zealous pastor. He ruled by personal piety and singular holiness of life. With scrupulous care he watched over the moral discipline of his diocese, improved the higher education of the clergy and lavished his resources on monastic and ecclesiastical institutions throughout the realm. The monastery of St. Pantaleon at Cologne, begun in 966, was his foundation. The literary distinction to which Lorraine, before other parts of the kingdom, early

attained may lie accounted not tin' least remarkable

result of his work. Bruno's favourite abode was Bonn.

When Otto set out a second time for Italy in 961,

to be crowned emperor at Rome, the government of

the realm and the guardianship of ( Itto II were con- tided to Bruno and to William. Archbishop oi Mainz.

Soon after the kaiser's return, Bruno was summoned again on a mission of peace to liaiice; it was while on this journey that he died, at Reims. His body, at