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The - Life - of Saint Benedict

Saint Benedict was born in 480 AD into a noble family in Italy. Although he lived a luxurious early life, he abandoned his studies in Rome around age 20 and moved to a quiet town to live a simpler, more religious life. He then became a hermit, living alone in a cave for three years. Later, he established 12 monasteries that became schools, with the 13th being where he served as abbot. Saint Benedict is credited with establishing the foundations of Western Christian monasticism and died in 547 AD while praying at his monastery in Monte Cassino.

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623 views11 pages

The - Life - of Saint Benedict

Saint Benedict was born in 480 AD into a noble family in Italy. Although he lived a luxurious early life, he abandoned his studies in Rome around age 20 and moved to a quiet town to live a simpler, more religious life. He then became a hermit, living alone in a cave for three years. Later, he established 12 monasteries that became schools, with the 13th being where he served as abbot. Saint Benedict is credited with establishing the foundations of Western Christian monasticism and died in 547 AD while praying at his monastery in Monte Cassino.

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ellebasi526
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Early Life of St.

Benedict
Saint

Benedict was born into a noble family of the Roman Republic in 480, Narsia (modern day Norcia), Umbria, Italy. The man known as Saint Gregory wrote about the history of Saint Benedicts life. Twin brother of Saint Scholastica He lived a luxurious life as the son of a noble and studied in Rome, where he brought his nurse along with him

Saint Benedicts Religious Path

Although there are no accounts of Saint Benedict being religious in his early life, St. Gregory wrote about his abandonment of his studies and leaving Rome around the year 500, when he was around 19 or 20 years old. His migration does not necessarily show that he wanted to become a hermit at the time, but that he simply wanted to live in a peaceful place away from the city. Along with his nurse, Benedict moved to a small, quiet, and gloomy town called Enfide, where he could live a new lifestyle and become closer to God.

Becoming a Hermit

On the way to a nearby village named Subiaco (known today as Affile), Benedict met a monk named Romanus The monk had a monastery on the cliff of a mountain near Subiaco. Romanus inspired Benedict to become a hermit and live in a cave he had discovered on the mountain for 3 years where he was supposedly fed by a raven. Saint Gregory stated that Benedict practiced the life of a saint as much as possible, visiting him and bringing food whenever possible.

Life After Being A Hermit


Benedict

matured through both mind and character as he learned about himself for 3 years. Even though he mostly kept to himself, he was a widely respected hermit. When the abbot of a nearby monastery died, the monks of the community begged him to become its abbot.

Life After Being A Hermit (cont)


Benedict, however, had known the discipline of this monastery, which was very different to his own life. Yet, he agreed to become the abbot of the monastery, knowing that the monks would not agree with his decisions. Shortly after, as predicted, the monks became angry with Benedicts decisions. They disliked him so much that they tried to poison him. As the story goes, they tried to poison him with a drink in which he blessed. The blessing over the cup caused it to shatter. They then tried to poison him with bread. Yet again, he blessed it. A raven swept down and took the bread.

Benedict returned to his cave, where he performed miracles that eventually attracted many followers. He built 12 monasteries for his followers, where he placed his 12 best monks as abbots. These monasteries soon became schools for children. The 13th monastery built was for him and a few, such as he thought would more profit and be better instructed by his own presence He was the main abbot, or father of all. In Monte Cassino, he founded the monastery that became the roots of the Churchs monastic system. Saint Benedict died of illness while standing in prayer at Monte Cassino in 547.

Saint Benedict had the ability to read consciences, the gift of prophesy, and could stop attacks from the devil. He was known for destroying pagan statues and altars, as well as driving demons from groves sacred to pagans. He is the patron saint for servants who break their masters things because of his first miracle. In this miracle, his old nurse had broken a wheatsifter that had been lent to her. She was so upset by the accident that Benedict lifted the pieces and prayed over them, and the article miraculously mended itself. His second miracle came forth when he did not have enough oil to start a mass, and through prayer, God refilled the jar.

Order Of Saint Benedict

Today, monks follow the lifestyle of Saint Benedict throughout parts of Europe in pursuit of exile from normal country life in order to get closer to God Although Benedictines do not take a vow of silence, hours of strict silence are set, and at other times silence is maintained as much possible

Saint Benedict was canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1220. He is also the pagan saint for gallbladders and other inflammatory ailments, and a patron saint for a happy death.

Works Cited
http://www.newad

vent.org/cathen/0 2467b.htm http://www.ewtn.c om/devotionals/no vena/benedict.ht m

http://www.st-

benedictmedal.com/index. htm http://www.catholi c.org/saints/saint.p hp?saint_id=26

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