THE FATHER OF MONASTICISM

Winchester, VA – Born in 580 in Nursia, Italy, Saint Benedict received his education in Rome, but he was repulsed by the rampant immorality and fled, making his home for 3 years in a cave at Subiaco. He was drawn out of solitude when he was asked to be the abbot for a local group of monks, but they disliked his rule and tried to poison him. He later settled at Monte Cassino and there built his famous monastery, assembling all the monks into one order. Monte Cassino was the cornerstone of Western monasticism. The Rule of Saint Benedict balanced prayer, study and work. He died in 547 and was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964. Saint Benedict, pray for us!