June 19: Saint Romuald
Born: c. 950, Ravenna, Italy
Died: June 19, 1027, Val di Castro, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Vocation / State: Monk, abbot, founder
Attributes: Monastic habit, staff, hermitage
Patronage: Camaldolese Order
Canonization: Pre-Congregation
St. Romuald is remembered as a man who dedicated his life to seeking God above all else. Through prayer, silence, and a deep desire for holiness, he helped renew monastic life in Italy and inspired generations of Christians to pursue a closer relationship with Christ.
Born into a noble family in Italy, Romuald spent his early years amid the comforts and privileges of noble life. Everything changed when he witnessed his father kill a relative in a duel over property. Horrified by what he had seen, Romuald withdrew to a monastery near Ravenna to do penance. What began as a response to tragedy soon became a lifelong search for God.
Romuald was drawn to a life of prayer, silence, and simplicity. Over the next several decades, he traveled throughout Italy, founding and reforming monasteries and hermitages. He believed that stepping away from worldly distractions could help people focus more fully on God and grow in holiness.
His path was not always easy. Romuald experienced periods of spiritual dryness, endured false accusations, and faced opposition from those who resisted his efforts at reform. Yet he continued to trust God, even when the way forward was unclear. Through those trials, his faith grew stronger and deeper.
The monastery he founded at Camaldoli became the beginning of the Camaldolese Order, which combined community life with the solitude of the hermit. His influence would help shape religious life for generations to come.
St. Romuald reminds us that conversion is not a single moment but a lifelong journey. His example encourages us to remain faithful through difficulties, trusting that God can work through both our joys and our struggles to draw us closer to Him.
Even today, St. Romuald's witness invites us to make room for silence, prayer, and deeper trust in God's presence. In a noisy and distracted world, his life points to the peace that comes from seeking the Lord above all else.
St. Romuald, pray for us!