Not much is known about the details of the life of St. Benedict. However, his impact on Western Civilization, on the Church, and on individuals seeking God, continues nearly 1500 years after his death. The only source of written information we have on the life of St. Benedict comes from the Dialogues by Pope St. Gregory the Great. The Rule of St. Benedict, said to be written by Benedict himself, reveals nothing about his personal history, but much about his character, wisdom, and holiness.
According to St. Gregory, Benedict was born in a little town 70 miles northeast of Rome called Norcia. He lived there with his parents and his sister Scholastica (who is also a canonized saint). When he came of age, his parents sent him to Rome to be educated. Benedict, however, did not stay long in Rome. From a young age, Benedict showed an eagerness for seeking God. Once in Rome Benedict found many distractions that could lead him away from God. Thus, Benedict decided to quit his studies and to enter the religious life.
Benedict first went to Affile (35 miles east of Rome), where he lived with his nurse. Benedict soon became honored in Affile for his holiness, and, not desiring human praise, he fled to the wilderness of Subiaco. At Subiaco, Benedict lived as a hermit in a cave. He spent three years at Subiaco, praying, fasting and working in solitude.
After three years, though, the local people began to hear of Benedict and his way of life, and started to visit him in great numbers to receive spiritual advice. Soon, he was invited by a community of nearby monks to be their new Abbot. Benedict reluctantly agreed to accept the position, warning them that his way of life was much stricter than theirs.
His warning proved true. In time, the monks became bitter at Benedict’s strictness, and tried to get rid of him. When the monks attempted to poison Benedict, he left the monastery to live as a hermit again. He did not remain hidden, though. His way of life had already influenced many people and they gathered around Benedict with a desire to serve God with him. Benedict henceforth established 12 monasteries.
Once again, Benedict encountered opponents, but this time it was not the monks under him. A local priest began attacking Benedict out of jealousy. The priest first tried to kill Benedict (again!) with a loaf of poisoned bread. When this didn’t work, he turned to Benedict’s monks and tried to lure them into sins of the flesh. At this, Benedict decided he could no longer stay in the area. He and his disciples went to Monte Cassino where Benedict founded a monastery. He stayed in Monte Cassino, living a life of ora et labora (work and prayer) and teaching his monks to seek God through this way of life. It was in Monte Cassino that Benedict wrote the famous Rule for monks. Benedict is known as the “Father of Western Monasticism” because this rule has so greatly impacted religious life in Europe and even throughout the world. Benedict’s Rule is also a key to learning of his great wisdom, his gentle, fatherly character, and his compassion for all.
There are several accounts of miracles worked by Benedict during his lifetime. He was noted for having the gift of
prophecy, he had visions of heavenly beings,and he even brought a dead boy back to life through his prayer. These super natural graces Benedict possessed are not in and of themselves what makes him a saint. Rather, they are outward signs of what he possesssed interiorly—deep prayer and love for God. Because of his union with God, he was given special gifts to help show others the goodness of God.
Benedict died in the year 547 AD. His death, according to tradition, is celebrated on March 21. He took his last breath as he stood, supported by two of his brethren, with arms raised to heaven in prayer.
Bibliography:
Pope St. Gregory the Great. (Transl. Odo Zimmerman & Benedict Avery). Life and Miracles of St. Benedict: Book Two of the Dialogues. The Liturgical Press. Collegville, Minnesota.
De Vogue, Adalbert. (Transl. Hilary Costello & Eoin de Bhaldrraithe). The Life of St. Benedict. St. Bede’s Publications. Petersham, Massachusetts. 1993.
