Odilio

(c. 962–1049)

   Saint.

   Odilio entered the monastery of Cluny in 991 and in 994 he was elected its fifth Abbot. He presided over a period of enormous expansion for the order. Not only were twenty-eight new daughter houses founded, but the whole organisation was centralised around the mother-house at Cluny. In addition he was a councillor of the Emperor Henry II and an influential figure in European politics. He is particularly remembered for introducing the commemoration of All Souls’ Day at Cluny. This spread throughout the whole Western Church. A man of enormous compassion as well as phenomenal administrative ability, he was canonised only fourteen years after his death.

   Catholic University of America, New Catholic Encyclopaedia (1967).