14/27 March

The founder of the Western Benedictine monastic order was born in the Italian city of Nursia in the year 480. At 14, the saint was dispatched by his parents to Rome to study. However, assailed by the immorality surrounding him, he decided to dedicate himself to another kind of life. At first, St. Benedict took up residence near the church of the Holy Apostle Peter in the town of Effeda, but talk of his ascetic life forced him to go farther into the hills. There he met with the hermit Romanos, who gave him monastic tonsure and directed him to live in a distant cave. From time to time, the hermit would bring the saint food. Living in complete isolation for three years, the saint waged an austere battle with, and overcame, his temptations. Soon people began to gather around him, thirsting to live under his direction. The number of disciples grew so large, that the saint divided them into 12 communities. Each community consisted of 12 monks and comprised a separate scete. From among his experienced students, the venerable one appointed an abbot for each scete. He kept with him and taught only the beginning monastics.

The strict rules established by St. Benedict for the monks were not to everyone’s taste, and more than once, the venerable one was subjected to slander and persecution.

Finally, he moved to Campania, and on Monte Cassino established the monastery which long remained the center of theological education for the Western Church, and at which a wonderful library was established. It was in this monastery that the Venerable St. Benedict composed his Rule, based upon the lessons of lives of the Eastern desert dwellers and the directions of the Venerable St. Cassian the Roman. The Rule was subsequently adopted by many Western monasteries. It imposes upon monastics absolute renunciation of possessions, unquestioning obedience, and constant labor. The most senior monks bear the responsibility of educating children and copying ancient manuscripts. This helped preserve many historic literary documents from the early centuries of Christianity. Each postulant was required to first spend a year under obedience, in order to learn the Rule and become accustomed to monastic life. He asked a blessing for every action. The head of the cenobitic monastery is the abbot, who possesses absolute authority. He judges, teaches, and enlightens. The abbot receives advice from the elder and experienced brethren, but he makes his own decisions. Fulfillment of the Rule is a strict requirement for all, and is considered as an important step toward achieving perfection.

The Lord made St. Benedict worthy to receive the gifts of prophetic sight and the power to work miracles. The Venerable One healed many through prayer, and he foretold his coming death.

St. Scholastica, the sister of Venerable Benedict, was also glorified for her strict ascetic life and was also numbered among the saints.