Saint Benedict, called the "Father of Western Monasticism," was born in Italy, in the district of the Umbrian town of Nursia (today called "Norcia"), about the year 480. The little we actually know about his life comes from Book II of the Dialogues of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, written about the year 593, some fifty years after the death of Saint Benedict, based on information provided by disciples of the holy abbot Benedict.

Saint Benedict is the author of the famous "Rule," written for his monasteries following a "cenobitic" or communal life of prayer, work and hospitality. The best-known monasteries founded by Saint Benedict, still in existence today, are Monte Cassino and Subiaco, both in Italy. Over the centuries followers of Saint Benedict (both monks and nuns) have spread to every inhabited continent of the world.

As a young man, Saint Gregory tells us in the Dialogues, Benedict was sent to Rome for a liberal arts education. This he quickly abandoned in favor of a life consecrated to God, first as a hermit for three years in a tiny grotto at Subiaco, then as a spiritual father of disciples who had gathered around him. As the numbers grew, he established twelve small monasteries in the hills around Subiaco.

Eventually Benedict handed over the direction of the Subiaco colony of monks to his disciples and started another monastery on the fortified hill called "Monte Cassino," some eighty miles south of Rome. At this new foundation his Rule was finalized and adapted for a single monastic family. About the year 547 Saint Benedict died, just a few weeks after his sister, Scholastica, who had been consecrated to God, according to St. Gregory, "from her infancy." Both Benedict and Scholastica were buried at Monte Cassino.

Even before his death Benedict had a reputation for holiness, spiritual guidance and miracle working. Though his life and work were limited to the area around Rome, Benedict's role as a monastic father and legislator for the West has extended his reputation far and wide. Today many thousands of monks and nuns follow his Rule, living in monasteries, devoting their lives to prayer and work of many types. Numerous laity (called "Oblates") also take inspiration from the Rule of Saint Benedict and pattern their lives on his teachings.

Saint Benedict's feastday is kept on both March 21st and July 11th each year. The March date is usually attached to the transitus (death) of Saint Benedict, while the July date usually commemorates Benedict as founder and patron saint of Western monasticism. Most monks and nuns observe March 21st as a liturgical "Feast," and July 11th as a liturgical "Solemnity." Saint Scholastica's feastday each year is on February 10. Benedictine nuns observe it as a solemnity.

On July 24, 1964 Saint Benedict was declared patron saint of Europe by Pope Paul VI, and Pope John Paul II named Saints Cyril and Methodius ("Apostles of the Slavs") as "co-patrons" of Europe with Saint Benedict.

SIX TRADITIONAL TITLES OF OUR HOLY FATHER SAINT BENEDICT

Pacis nuntius - (Messenger of Peace)
Unitatis effector - (Architect of unity)
Civilis cultus magister - (Teacher of culture and civilization)
Monasticae vitae in Occidente auctor - (Founder of Western Monasticism)
Religionis christianae praeco - (Herald of the Christian Faith)
Patronus totus Europae - (Father of the whole of Europe).

By Br. Christian Leisy, OSB