Abbot and founder of Subiaco and Monte Cassino, he is best remembered as
the author of the Rule, which bears his name.
Little is known about his life. He was born at Nursia and studied at
Rome, which he left before completing his studies to become a hermit at
Subiaco.
After a time disciples joined him, these he organised into twelve
deaneries of ten and whose life was probably semieremitical in character.
There was acute local jealousy c525, which was said to have caused an
attempt on his life. He left for Monte Cassino, near Naples, and there wrote
the final version of his Rule.
His achievement was to produce a monastic way of life, which was
complete, orderly and workable. The monks' primary occupation was liturgical
prayer, complemented by sacred reading and manual work of various kinds.
Benedict's own personality is mirrored in his description of what kind of
man the abbot should be: wise, discreet, flexible, learned in the law of
God, but also a spiritual father to his community.
In the early Middle Ages the Benedicts' rule came to be recognised as the
fundamental, almost the only monastic code of Western Europe.
Benedict was not a priest, nor did he intend to 'found a religious
Order'. His principal achievement was to write a Rule.
His feast day is the 21st March.
Written and contributed by Phillip Lloyd.
