Jan 1 William of Dijon

Thom and Jack
Good Morning, I love you.

January 1
William of Dijon d. ~1000+


William of Dijon is also known as William of St. Benignus. Dijon is the name of the town. St. Benignus is the name of the monastery William founded there. This would be a good place to do an aside on St Benignus – I’ll save that for a post script. Both saints are worth your knowing…. We are known by the city in which we are born. E.g., I’m an Irish Catholic boy from New York City. That identity carried me through the trials of moving to Albany, to Portland, across town to Alba Street from Boynton Street, and a change of parishes; through seven schools from first through twelfth grade: not to mention my every move from Bama to Greensboro. I yam who I yam. And so are you – the imprint of Nashville and the Dominicans – not to mention Judge Robinson’s wrong decisions – plus the effect of being baptized in New York City.

William of Dijon was the son of Count Robert of Volpiano. Sometimes the bioblurbs don’t mention the mother to whom a saint is born. We all know that’s a mistake. For good and ill, you are also your mother’s sons.
William of Dijon was born in the family castle on San Giuglio island in lake Orta near Nocera while his father was defending the island against the attacking Emperor Otto. You were both born in HCA’s woman’s hospital in Nashville while your father was defending the Vanderbilt Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital from [himself?] the challenges of making a business out of the country’s only joint venture between a university and a hospital company.
The uniqueness of that deal between HCA and Vanderbilt is worth study. We operated on a handshake for the first several years. When the Vice-Chancellor first saw me for my interview for the CEO job, he shook my hand and said, “you don’t look like an HCA administrator!” “Good. Then I ought to fit in very well here.” I think I satisfied the VU people more than my HCA bosses – and I did a good enough job for HCA that they put me on the President’s Advisory Committee and made me a spokesman for the psych company when we went into the LBO. By the way, it was the generosity of HCA that paid for your housing from 1994 and your college tuition. I thank Dr.s Frist in my prayers often.
William was entered into the Benedictine Abbey of Locadio when he was seven. The children of Catholic royalty were given the benefits of a monastery education from an early age. Thanks to people like Elizabeth Ann Seton and John Neumann, the children of Catholics in America get the benefits of a Catholic education whether they can afford it or not. In your case, you were given the benefits of the Dominican Sisters of St Cecelia because HCA paid me a terrific salary. The Dominicans did not give scholarships to their school. You also got the advantage to go to school with children of many of the city’s Catholic leaders. (Unfortunately when you were taken to Greensboro, you were deprived of a continuing Catholic education. C’est domage.)
William of Dijon became a monk at the Benedictine Abbey of Locadio. A natural course of events. He was probably not the oldest son, first in line to the Counnt-dom. Finding your vocation, learning how best to discern your vocation, developing the desire to discover God’s will for you are all helped by where you go to school. It’s harder to find God in a godless high school or in a house where Catholicism is disdained. However, God continues to call. [Sam3:1-10] God’s love endures forever: the secret of a father’s love.
In 987 William of Dijon joined St. Majolus at Cluny. I wish we had the story of how William of Dijon got from Locadio to Cluny. That’s like getting from UNCG to Harvard or from Healthcare Services of America to Hospital Corporation of America. From the bush leagues to the Majors. Cluny was THE monaster of the tenth and eleventh centuries. The Clunianic reforms infused the religious life and all of Christendom. Maybe William of Dijon aspired to one of the best, better than the Marines. To be your best you must challenge yourself to pursue the best, learn from the best, compete with the best. Don’t hold yourself back by doing good enough at mediocre situations. You have the talent and the resources to be the best.
William of Dijon must have been a holy man and a leader of his community. What were the traits that resulted in his being selected to reorganize/reform St Semin Abbey on the Rhome? How did he develop them? You can be sure he mastered the Rule of St Benedict. You can be sure he embrace the Cluniac reforms. These are not only guide individuals into greater holiness. These are also blue prints for reforming any organization. If I were successful at do-overs and turn-arounds, it was in part because I learned something from St Benedict [and, of course, Ignatius].
In 990, William of Dijon was ordained. We have many vocations to discern from. Be sure that your faith formation is sufficient that you listen to your call, hear it, and respond “here I am Lord”. You may best serve God by being a priest or a religious.
Some time after his ordination, William of Dijon was named abbot of St Benignus at Dijon. We are all called to lead. To make the best of ourselves. To make the best of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. I was lucky enough to serve as leader of a few hospitals and service lines. Not unlike Parkview Hospital, HCA’s first hospital, became the template for HCA’s hospital, I believe VCAPH became a model for the psych company and HCA’s joint ventures.
William of Dijon built St Benignus Abbey into a great center of spirituality, education, and culture. Be all that you can be; make your circumstance into greatness – body, mind, spirit: spirituality, education, and culture; infuse it all with your spirit and The Spirit. You never know what effect you will have as a pebble dropped into the pond of life.
The St Benignus Abbey, because of William of Dijon’s creation, became the mother monastery of some forty monasteries in Burgundy, Lorraine, Normandy, and Northern Italy. In addition, Willia of Dijon traveled widely, spreading the Cluniac reform. I have a poster somewhere. A momma turtle swimming along. A baby swimming behind her. Another turtle swimming behind that one. Then the third baby turtle is sitting in his overturned shell with a paddle. The headline: There’s always a better way. Each day personally. Everywhere lead improvement.

He died at Fe'camp Monastery in Normandy which he had rebuilt on January 1.
P.S.

St Benen (Latinized Benignus) d. 467

Benignus was the son of Sesenen, an Irish chieftain in that part of Ireland which is now County Meath. Aunt Helen et al. research our family tree – no chieftains that I know of. Grandma looked back through her family – no chieftains there. But, we are fans of The Chieftains. And Grandpa is pater familias.

Benignus was baptized by St. Patrick. As an adult baptism, and son of a Chieftain, Benignus was a major hit for Patrick. It also means that Benignus’ choice to become Catholic, to reject Oak Trees and Mother Earth, was a conscious response to the Holy Spirit. You were luckier. Your parents brought you to the baptismal font at St Elizabeth’s of Hungry. Kevin O’Connell, S.J. poured the holy water over your forehead, christened you with holy oils. Your parents and Godparents spoke the baptismal vows for you – committing you no less than if you had said them yourself. You were blessed, also, to confirm your baptism before our family, our bishop (Nashville and Charlotte), and our Church.

Benignus became Patrick’s favorite disciple and his right hand man at the See of Armagh (450). This son of a chieftain was not only holy, resolved, strong, he was gentle and lovable. As Patrick’s coadjutor, Benignus followed him in all his travels. He assisted Patrick in his missionary efforts. Being number two on the team, being “the man’s” go to guy is a valuable role. It takes first of all knowing who you are and where your talents lie. Be patient in your discernment. Try several roles. Seek God’s will. Be humble.

We each have our charisms. Play to your strength. Identify your weaknesses – then make them also your strengths. Pursue your own perfection. Do the best with the talents, gifts, resources you are given. You will be asked what you have done with God’s gifts – long before the last accounting; you’ll be asked about what you’ve done by yourself, by your spouse, your children, your colleagues, your bosses.

Benignus was known as “Patrick’s psalm-singer” because he provided Patrick with choral support. He drew thousands to Christ by his sweet voice: a singing Chieftain’s Son, better than a bard or seanachie!

We rarely have only one talent, one interest, one vocation, one responsibility. Benignus assisted Patrick in compiling the great Irish code of Laws, Senchus Mor. Benignus also contributed to the “Psalter of Cashel” and the “Book of Rights”. Benignus was a writer – know anyone like that?

I love you,
Dad
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