The Benedictine abbey of Cluny
Cluny was founded in 909 as a community of Benedictine monks subject to the Pope by William I of Aquitaine, who made over his hunting reserve to the monastery. It soon became independent and its monks were able to devote their time to the celebration of the divine office and the liturgy as their main work.

Odilo - a first-class organiser
Odilo came from an aristocratic family, joined the monastery as a young man and became its fifth abbot in 994. It was in his abbacy of fifty-five years that Cluny became the most important monastery in western Europe.

Odilo was a first-class organiser, but he was also gentle and kind, especially to the needy. During his time many new houses were founded from Cluny, not only in France, but also in Italy and Spain. All were priories under the control of the abbot of Cluny and through his own strength of character Odilo was able to promote the true spirit of monasticism.

Peace-maker
Due the political influence he acquired he was able to promote the Peace and Truce of God (Treuga Dei) by which military opponents ceased hostilities from Fridays to Mondays as well as during Lent and Advent. Although there was much opposition, this did hold in many French provinces.

Lover of the poor
During the famine of 1028-33, he sold or melted down much of the precious church plate so the poor could have food to eat.

All Souls' Day
One liturgical initiative he made still remains in the Church. He set aside 2nd November to be observed in his monasteries as a day of prayer for all deceased monks and this was later extended to all the faithful and the practice of saying three Masses on that day grew.

Influence
Cluny became one of the biggest churches in Christendom, had a huge library and played an important in developing Gregorian chant. Odilo travelled widely, spreading the Cluniac reform. He made several visits to Rome and visited Monte Cassino. He did considerable at Cluny and although Cluny is now a ruin, the nearby Taizé community plays a similar cultural role with young people through its prayer life, music and liturgy.

Odilo died on 1 January 1049 at Souvigny while on visitation of the monasteries under his control. He was aged eighty-seven and had been abbot for fifty-five years.