The Rule, written by Saint Benedict in the 6th century, still remains the cornerstone of the western Christianity.
Saint Benedict’s Early Life
Saint Benedict was born in the village of Nursia, Italy, in 480. Being a son of a noble family, the young Benedict went to Rome to get a classical education. However, life in the Eternal City did not come up his expectations and soon he left Rome in quest for a more peaceful place and virtuous life. A monk named Romanus helped Benedict to find such a place in the mountains southeast of Rome, around an area called Subiaco. That place was a cave where Benedict had lived as a hermit for three years.
The hermit’s seclusion was broken by a visit of monks from a nearby monastery who asked him to become their abbot. Benedict accepted, but the monastic community could hardly bear the order and discipline he required and soon the monks plotted to poison their superior. So, they poisoned his wine but when Benedict blessed it, the cup broke into thousands of pieces. Then the monks poisoned his bread. When Benedict blessed it, a raven flew in the room and took the bread away. Thereafter Benedict left the monastery.
Saint Benedict’s Monastic Life and Work
Benedict returned to his cave but his ability to work miracles, his sanctity and wise teachings attracted so many disciples that he could not live in seclusion anymore. Subsequently, he founded the first monastery at Subiaco. It was dedicated to St Clement of Rome and Benedict had lived there for two decades. During that time, he established 12 affiliated monasteries in the area. In 528, Benedict moved to Monte Cassino – a place eighty miles south of Rome. He organized a monastic community there and built the famous Monastery of Monte Cassino where he spent the rest of his life and wrote his remarkable Rule – the St Benedict’s opus vitae (life’s work).
The Rule of St Benedict
The Rule of St Benedict, originally known as “The Rule for the Monastery of Monte Casino”, is a set of seventy-three short guidelines, both religious and administrative. In a short time, the Rule achieved wide popularity and was adopted by many monastic communities. Although it was influenced by earlier writings, such as those of St Basil, St Augustine, St Pachomius, St John Cassian, as well as the anonymous “Rule of the Master”, the Rule of Benedict gave a unique and balanced pattern of praying and living. It was followed by most of the communities in Western Christendom in the past. Even today many monasteries and convents obey the Rule.
Benedict died on March 21, 547. Later, his life and miracles were described by St Gregory the Great (pope from 590 to 604). Benedict was canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1220. In 1964, Pope Paul VI declared St Benedict of Nursia “the principal, heavenly patron of the whole of Europe”. Saint Benedict’s feast day is July 11.
Sources:
Life and Miracles of St. Benedict by Pope Gregory I, Liturgical Press, 1984
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