Saint Benedict of Nursia Biography: The Rule of Saint Benedict

Saint Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy, around 470 AD. He is the patron saint of Europe and of students . Saint Benedict is often depicted with a bell, a broken tray, a raven, or a crozier. His feast day is celebrated on July 11.

His unique spirit of moderation and reasoning influenced most European religious communities to adopt it, making Benedict one of the most influential Christian writers in history ! He is often called the founder of Western Christian monasticism. His greatest achievement was the Rule , containing detailed precepts for his monks and the administration of his communities.

In this article, we share with you all the exploits of Saint Benedict , his miracles, his philosophy, his art of expressing himself orally and the famous Rule of the Christian saint. The story of Benedict is enriching and surprising! We hope you enjoy it. 🧙‍♂️

And if you would like to discover more stories about Christian saints, here are several articles available on our site that you can discover:

• The story of the patron saint of lovers
• The Story of Padre Pio
• The story of Saint Rita of Cascia
• The Story of Saint Anthony the Great
• The story of Saint Joseph
• The story of Saint Therese

1) Saint Benedict Biography

A. Saint Benedict of Nursia: the Patron of all Europe

Saint Benedict , abbreviated as Saint Benedict of Nursia , was born around 470 AD. This historical period, just four years before the official fall of the Western Roman Empire by the deposition of the last emperor Romulus Augustulus, was quite difficult. He died around 547 AD. Saint Benedict is celebrated on July 11 and formerly on March 21. He is the founder of the Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino and the father of Western monasticism. The Rule he established became the standard for monastic life throughout Europe. In 1964, in view of the work of the monks following the Benedictine Rule in evangelization, Pope Paul VI proclaimed Saint Benedict patron saint of all Europe .

Saint Benedict of Nursia was a great Christian saint of Italy . After spending his childhood in Rome and then devoting himself to a period as a solitary monk, Benedict founded 12 monastic communities. The best known being that of Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy.

He became legendary for his personal asceticism and for performing many miracles. His greatest achievement, however, remains his Rule. The only recognized authority for the facts of St. Benedict 's life is Book 2 of the Dialogues of St. Gregory I (probably written between 593 and 594 AD). He claims to have obtained information about St. Benedict's life from four of Benedict's disciples. Although Gregory's work includes many signs and wonders, his overview of Benedict's life can be accepted as historical!

B. The Youth of Saint Benedict

Saint Benedict was born into a good family and was sent by his parents to the Roman schools. His life spans the decades during which the ruined imperial city became the Rome of the medieval papacy. In the fifth century, young Benedict was sent to Rome to complete his studies with a house nurse. He was probably disgusted by the dissolute lifestyle by the difficult political situation in Rome. The subject that dominated a young man's study at that time was rhetoric, the art of persuasion. A good speaker is not the one who has the best argument or who conveys the truth, but the one who uses rhythm, eloquence, and technique to convince.

And this philosophy was also reflected in the lives of the students. They had everything: education, wealth, youth. Unfortunately, they spent all this in the pursuit of pleasure. Benedict looked with horror at the life and ethics of his companions. Then according to Gregory's account: abandoning his books and his father's house and wealth, for the sole purpose of serving God , he sought a place where he could achieve the desire of his holy purpose. His exact age at the time is a matter of debate, it is generally assumed that he was between 14 and 20 years old.

C. Saint Benedict Hermitage: a solitary life in a turd (3 years)

Fearful for his soul, St. Benedict fled Rome , renouncing his inheritance, and lived in a small village with his nurse. When God called him beyond this quiet life to an even deeper solitude , he went to the mountains of Subiaco. Although he had not intended to go into hermitage, St. Benedict eventually lived as a hermit . He took refuge in a cave in the ruins of Nero's village near Subiaco. Immersed in solitude, his only contact with the outside world was with a monk named Romanus, whose monastery was nearby. He gave St. Benedict the habit of a monk and provided for his spiritual and material needs.

One day, while Benedict was living as a hermit in a cave above a lake , the Devil presented to Benedict's imagination a beautiful and tempting woman. Benedict resisted by rolling his body in a thorn bush until it was covered in scratches. It is said that through these bodily wounds, he healed the wounds of his soul. Three years of solitude followed.

Eventually, God allowed his fame to spread again, and a nearby community of monks asked him to become their abbot. The saint reluctantly agreed. However, the men rebelled against his ascetic directives and attempted to poison him. Saint Benedict was not harmed, for when he made the sign of the cross over the poisoned drink, the cup broke. ✝️

Benedict returned to his cave . Gradually, individuals began to come and live near him in Subiaco. Later, Saint Benedict built twelve monasteries for these spiritual children. He himself lived in a thirteenth, the most famous abbey in continental Europe: Monte Cassino . An abbey that was for a long time a center of theological education for the Western Church.

D. Creation of the Monasteries

Saint Benedict founded twelve monasteries and sent twelve monks to each of them. In addition, he founded a thirteenth monastery for novices and those in need of education. Benedict's fame spread so quickly (in Rome too) that two illustrious men, Equizius and the noble Tertullus, entrusted their two sons Maurus and Placidus to him. They were to become the first two jewels of the Benedictine family .

All the work was aimed at making the monastery autonomous and independent . Eventually, Benedict XVI's project of an ideal abbey (monastery) was disseminated to religious orders throughout Europe. Abbeys were generally built in accordance with this project in the following centuries. ⛪

E. Miracles of Saint Benedict

During his life, Saint Benedict performed many miracles . In Affile, Saint Benedict performed his first miracle by restoring to perfect condition a terracotta wheat sieve that his servant had accidentally broken. The notoriety that this miracle brought, pushed Benedict to withdraw further from social life. There are many others:

• He found water on top of a desolate mountain to quench the thirst of his monks.
• Like the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 6:1-7), he floated an axe head that had been lost in the water.
• Additionally, he made Maurus walk on water to save young Placidus from drowning.
• The Lord granted St. Benedict the gift of foresight and wonder . He healed many people through his prayers.
• The monk predicted the day of his death (547).

In a story from the life of St. Benedict , a poor man came to the monastery asking for some oil. Although Benedict ordered that the oil be given, the cellarer refused because there was only a tiny bit of oil left. If the cellarer gave the oil as alms, there would be none for the monastery. Angered by this distrust of God's providence, Benedict knelt down to pray . 🙇 As he prayed, a bubbling sound came from inside the oil jar. The monks watched in fascination as God's oil filled the container so completely that it overflowed, flowing under the lid and eventually pushed the lid off, cascading onto the floor.

Jealous monks from a rival monastery attempt to poison Benedict's bread. This time, when he blesses the bread, a raven snatches the bread and carries it away. Benedict is also said to have demolished the altar and idol of Apollo in the town of Monte Cassino, converting many locals and establishing the foundation of the famous abbey there. When a child monk was crushed to death while building a wall, Benedict raised him from the dead . Healing his utterly destroyed body and immediately putting him back to work.

Benedict's prophetic powers were also legendary. He predicted the death of Totila, king of the Goths. He knew in advance that the Lombards would close one of the abbeys he had established. He also had knowledge of the secret sins of the monks and nuns in his charge.

All these miracles could not have been performed by monks or any other people at that distant time. This is why Saint Benedict has a great importance in the history of Christianity ! We have paid tribute to the Christian saint by sharing sacred religious objects in his image: Saint Benedict Jewelry . The creation of Saint Benedict jewelry was born thanks to a sacred religious medal in the name of Benedict.

2) The Rule of Saint Benedict

A. Benedict Rule

In the reference to the Rule of St Benedict , he described it as being clear in its language and remarkable in its discretion. The Rule which has imposed itself throughout Europe by its excellence alone is not long and often idiosyncratic. The Rule of St Benedict, drawn from diverse and disparate sources, has provided the monastic way of life with a repertoire both practical and spiritual, which has remained in force after 1,500 years.

The Rule of St. Benedict presents both spiritual guidance on a Christ-centered way of life on earth and administrative guidelines on how to effectively run a monastery. This document is thought to be heavily influenced by the writings of the Eastern monastic writer John Cassian. 📕

Benedict XVI begins by describing four types of monks:

• the cenobites, who live together in a monastery
• the anchorites, or hermits
• the Sarabaites, who live in pairs or threes without rule or superior
• the gyrovagues, who wander from one monastery to another.

It is for the cenobites that the Rule of Benedict is written (chapter 1). It describes the necessary qualifications of an abbot, and forbids him to make distinctions between persons in the monastery except on the basis of merit. It orders that the members of the community be gathered in council for matters of importance.

As remarkable as this careful and complete arrangement is, the spiritual and human counsels generously given throughout the Rule are unique among all the monastic and religious rules of the Middle Ages. Benedict's counsels to the abbot and the cellarer, as well as his instructions on humility, silence, and obedience, have become part of the spiritual treasury of the church. From which not only monastic bodies, but also the legislators of the various institutions, draw inspiration.

The character of Benedict , as Gregory points out, must be discovered from his Rule . The impression that emerges from it is that of a wise and mature holiness, authoritarian but paternal, firm but loving. It is that of a spiritual master fit and accustomed to governing and guiding others, having himself found his peace in the acceptance of Christ. 🙏

B. The Art of Saint Benedict: the Word

In this tiny but powerful Rule, Benedict put to the service of the Gospel what he had learned about the power of speech and oratorical rhythms . He did not drop out of school because he did not understand the subject. Scholars have said that: Benedict’s Rule reflects an understanding and skill in the rhetorical rules of the day . Despite his school experience, he understood that rhetoric was as much a tool as a hammer. A hammer could be used to build a house or hit someone on the head. Rhetoric (the art of speaking well) could be used to promote God .

In his communities there were always words that were read aloud at meals, to receive guests, to educate novices. Hearing the words once was not enough: We wish that this Rule be read frequently to the community (Benedict).

C. The Rule in the Church

Remarkable as it is, this careful and comprehensive arrangement, the spiritual and human advice generously given throughout the Rule are unique among all the monastic and religious rules of the Middle Ages. Benedict's advice to the abbot and the cellarer, as well as his instructions on humility, silence and obedience, have become part of the spiritual treasury of the church . Not only monastic bodies, but also the legislators of the various institutions draw inspiration from them.

Over time this discretion has sometimes been abused in defense of comfort and indulgence. But readers of the Rule cannot fail to note the call for complete and exact observance of the counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience .

D. The Life of the Monks

Each new monk was required to live as a novice for a year, to learn the monastic rule , and to acclimatize himself to monastic life. Each act required a blessing. The head of a cenobitic monastery is the hegumen . He discerns, teaches, and explains. The hegumen seeks the advice of older and more experienced brethren, but it is he who makes the final decisions. Observance of the monastic rule is strictly obligatory for all, and is considered an important step on the path to perfection.

Saint Benedict demonstrated a spirit of moderation. His monks are entitled to clothing adapted to the climate, sufficient food (without specific fasting outside the times observed by the Roman Church), and sufficient sleep (7/8 hours). The working day is divided into three roughly equal parts: five to six hours of liturgical and other prayer, five hours of manual work, whether domestic work, crafts, gardening or field work. And four hours of reading the Scriptures and spiritual writings. This balance between prayer, work and study is another legacy of Benedict XVI.

Constitutionally, Benedict's crowning achievement was to provide a succinct and comprehensive directory for the government and spiritual and material welfare of a monastery. The abbot , elected for life by his monks , retains supreme power and, under all normal circumstances, is accountable to no one. He may seek advice from the elders or from the whole body, but is not bound by their advice. He appoints his own officials: prior, cellarer (steward), master of novices, master of guests, and the rest. And controls all the activities of individuals and organizations of the common life. Ownership of even the smallest thing is forbidden without the abbot's permission. The order of offices for the canonical hours (daily services) is precisely established. A dean is to be appointed for every ten monks (21). Each monk is to have a separate bed and is to sleep in his habit. Officials are to be appointed to supervise the material goods of the monastery.

Benedict specifies a graduated scale of punishments for various sins: private admonition, public reprimand, separation from the community during meals and other group gatherings, corporal punishment, and/or finally excommunication.

3) Saint Benedict Prayer

A. The Work of God

For prayer, St. Benedict of Nursia turned to the psalms, songs, and poems of the Jewish liturgy that Jesus himself had prayed. Joining our voices with Jesus in praising God during the day was so important that Benedict called it: the work of God . And nothing was to be put before the work of God. As soon as the signal for the Divine Office is heard, all work will cease (Benedict). Benedict believed with Jesus that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

But it was not enough to speak the words. Benedict instructed his disciples to practice sacred reading . In this lectio divina, he and his monks memorized Scripture, studied it, and contemplated it until it became part of their being. Four to six hours were set aside each day for this sacred reading. If the monks had free time, it should be used by the brothers to practice the psalms. The lessons of Scripture were to be spoken from memory, not read from a book. 🤲 📖 In Benedictine prayer , our hearts are the empty vessel of all thought and intellectual effort. All that remains is trust in God’s providence to fill us. As we empty ourselves in this way, God’s abundant goodness bubbles up in our hearts. First with a breath or two, and finally overflowing with contemplative love.

B. What God says according to Benedict

Saint Benedict said : Let us consider our place before God and his angels . Let us stand up singing so that our hearts and voices may be in harmony.

Benedict XVI realized that the most solid and true foundation for the power of words was the Word of God itself: For what page or word in the Bible is not a perfect rule for temporal life? He had experienced the power of God’s word as expressed in Scripture: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it fruitful and fertile, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will my word be that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me void, but it will do my will, fulfilling the end for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:10-11).

C. Saint Benedict: a sacred religious icon

After almost 1,500 years of monastic tradition, his direction seems obvious to us. However, Benedict was an innovator . No one had ever created communities like his before, nor had anyone led them with a rule. What is history for us today was a bold and risky step. St. Benedict had the holiness and abilities to take this step. His beliefs and instructions on religious life were collected in what is now known as the Rule of St. Benedict, still guiding religious life after 15 centuries .

D. The death of Saint Benedict: a heavy loss

Ultimately, such a noble life was followed by a highly glorified death . According to tradition, Saint Benedict died on March 21, 547 AD . He had foreseen his imminent death, informing his disciples that the end was near. Six days before he died, he had the tomb he was to share with his deceased sister, Saint Scholastica, opened. Then, completely exhausted, he asked to be taken to his oratory where, after taking his last communion, he died supported by his monks. It is said that he died with a high fever on the very day that God had told him he was dying .

After his death, Saint Benedict became extremely influential , as his Rule was adopted in the majority of monasteries in Western Christendom. Indeed, the early Middle Ages have been called "the Benedictine centuries." Pope Benedict XVI, who adopted the saint's name when he became pope, stated: Through his life and work, Saint Benedict exerted an important influence in the cultural construction of Europe, and helped Europe overcome the fall of the Roman Empire .

Beyond its religious influences, the Rule of Saint Benedict was one of the most important written works in the formation of Western society. It embodied the idea of ​​a written constitution, authority limited by law, and the right of the governed to control the legality of the actions of their rulers. It also incorporated a degree of democracy into an undemocratic society. 🙏🧙‍♂️🙏

The modern Order of Saint Benedict is distinguished from other Western religious orders in that it is not a legal entity, but consists of autonomous communities loosely formed into what is known as the Benedictine Confederation . In the modern confederation of the Benedictine Order, the Black Monks (so called because of the color of their habits) were united under an abbot primate in the late 19th century. The primacy is centered in the International Benedictine College of Saint Anselm in Rome. Its feast day, which was previously March 21, was moved in 1969 to July 11. On which date it had traditionally been celebrated in many areas since the eighth century.

4) In Homage to Saint Benedict: Sacred objects in his image

The rich story of St. Benedict has not only changed the generation in which he lived, but also our generation in the modern era. All that St. Benedict brought to the Christian community is more than just a gift. He has had great importance in the religion of Christianity since the masterly invention of his Rule.