St Benedict of Nursia

St Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-c. 547), founder of the monastery of Monte Cassino, known as the father of Western monasticism.

Born into a distinguished family of Nursia, in central Italy, Benedict spent his early years studying in Rome. Shocked by the degenerate life of the city, he withdrew to an uninhabited area near Subiaco, where he lived in a cavern (later called the Holy Grotto) for three years. During this time his fame as a saintly man grew, and multitudes came to see him. Invited to become the abbot of a group of monks living in northern Italy, he accepted the position; but the monks disagreed with his rules and tried to poison him. After discovering the plot, he left the group and shortly thereafter started a monastery at Monte Cassino.

Benedict established a rule of life, later adopted by most Western monasteries, that stressed communal living and physical labour. A monk was not allowed to own property, meals were taken in common, and unnecessary conversation was avoided. Benedict also devoted much of his time to the needs of the local people, distributing alms and food to the poor. His feast day is July 11.