Saint Odilo's Day is celebrated on January 04th. Born in 962 in Saint-Cirgues (Haute-Loire). He is a son of the seigniorial family of Mercœur in Auvergne whose lands were located on the plateaus on either side of the Allier between Brioude and Langeac. He began his studies as a canon at the church of Saint-Julien in Brioude.
In 991, Mayeul, the fourth abbot of Cluny, attracted him to the abbey where he taught the novices. He became his coadjutor shortly before his death. He is elected the fifth abbot of Cluny in 994, at the death of Mayeul.
He is the main initiator of the Cluniac reform:
- a return to the strict rule of St. Benedict,
- good behaviour,
- obedience,
- poverty,
- chastity,
- piety and contemplation.
Of exceptional courage, Odilon is best known for his compassion and tireless charity. In 1006, he sold all his possessions in order to help the people stricken by famine. He is also responsible for the commemoration of the faithful departed, celebrated for the first time on November 2, 998.
On 14 September 1025, he founded with his family the Sainte-Croix Priory of Lavoûte-Chilhac. He attended the consecration of Concrad II in 1027. In 1031 he refused the post of Archbishop of Lyon.
Odilo's teachings have left an indelible mark on the Abbey of Cluny. When he died on 31 January 1049 during a visit to Souvigny, there were 70 communities in Cluny.
The name Odilon comes from the Germanic "odo": wealth and "ilde": war. The Odilos are not difficult. They look for harmony and happiness within the family, and if by misfortune they don't find it, they close themselves in. The Odilos are intelligent but indecisive by nature.
