St. Romuald and the Camaldolese Order of Monk Hermits

Introduction

Although the monastic spirit of the Benedictines became popular
in the early Middle Ages, new forms of monasticism arose in
abundance among both clergy and lay faithful. And as the monks of
the Benedictine Order triumphed the ideal "ora et labora", the
new forms of monastic and ascetical life had as their ideal of
life the "vita apostolica" of poverty and voluntary renunciation.
One of those religious founders who followed this new form of
monasticism was St. Romuald (or Romwald).

Conversion after a "wild youth"

Romuald was of the noble Onesti family of Ravenna, Italy. He
lived a "wild youth", probably influenced by his father, Sergius,
who had killed a relative in a duel over a piece of land. To
expiate for his father's killing and atone for the crime, Romuald
retired at twenty years of age to San Apollinare Monastery at
Classe (a monastery under the central authority of Cluny), and
became a monk around the year 972 A.D. This monastery followed
the rule of St. Benedict.

In search of "austerity"

After three years at the Classe monastery, Romuald left in search
of a more austere life. He went to the woods near Venice, and
placed himself under the spiritual direction of the hermit,
Marinus. Romuald lived a solitary life for about ten years. He
returned home to assist his father, who also became a monk, but
was having doubts on this vocation.

Abbot of San Apollinare

In 998 A.D., Otto III appointed Romuald as abbot of the monastery
at Classe. Romuald however resigned after more than a year, to
live again as a hermit - this time at Pereum (Pereum became an
important center for the training of clergy for the Slavonic
missions). Romuald wandered through northern Italy, on the
heights of the Apennines, seeking God in solitude and prayer.

Discovery of a new vocation

Romuald also obtained a mandate from the Pope to carry out a
mission to the Magyars in Hungary. He however became ill and was
forced to return to Italy. He then studied more on the Desert
Fathers and discovered a vocation and path to holiness through
solitude. He founded a monastery at Fonte Avellana (refounded by
St. Peter Damian) and another at Camaldoli, Tuscany in 1023 A.D.
(the name Camaldoli is derived from Campus Maldoli).

The Camaldolese Order

The founding at Camaldoli covered a fifteen-year span. After St.
Romuald's death, the community developed into the Camaldolese
Order (Monk Hermits of Camaldoli). St. Romuald did not leave a
written Rule for the Order. This Camaldolese Order (which began
as five hermitages built by St. Romuald) combined the cenobitic
(community) and eremitical (hermit) life following the rule of
St. Benedict (with some modifications).

Contribution to Benedictine monasticism

The spiritual legacy of St. Romuald was to provide a place for
the eremitical life within the framework of the Rule of St.
Benedict. The Camaldolese hermits would have liturgical worship
and meals together, but would then live independently of one
another - going to each one's own cell. The Camaldolese spirit
which influenced St. Bruno and from which he was later on to draw
a spiritual framework for the Carthusian Order.

Summary and conclusion

One biographer reports of St. Romuald as wanting to inspire many
to his sense of contrition and "to change the world into nothing
but a hermitage". St. Romuald's search for God in solitude and
prayer is well-expressed in art, where he is shown in the white
robe of the Camaldolese Order with his finger to his lips,
requesting silence.