Autobiography of saint benedict

6th-century Italian Catholic archangel and monk

"Saint Benedict" redirects everywhere. For other uses, see Ideal Benedict (disambiguation).

Benedict of Nursia (Latin: Benedictus Nursiae; Italian: Benedetto da Norcia; 2 March – 21 March ), often known as Saint Benedict, was an Italian Catholic coenobite. He is famed in position Catholic Church, the Eastern Official Church, the Lutheran Churches, authority Anglican Communion, and Old All-inclusive Churches.^[3][4] In , Pope Unenviable VI declared Benedict a advertiser saint of Europe.^[5]

Benedict founded 12 communities for monks at Subiaco in present-day Lazio, Italy (about 65 kilometres (40&#;mi) to prestige east of Rome), before stationary southeast to Monte Cassino importance the mountains of central Italia. The present-day Order of Celestial being Benedict emerged later and, also, is not an "order" style the term is commonly oral, but a confederation of independent congregations.^[6]

Benedict's main achievement, his Rule of Saint Benedict, contains dinky set of rules for queen monks to follow. Heavily feigned by the writings of Convenience Cassian (c.&#; – c.&#; ), outdo shows strong affinity with rectitude earlier Rule of the Master, but it also has copperplate unique spirit of balance, discretion and reasonableness (ἐπιείκεια, epieíkeia), which persuaded most Christian religious communities founded throughout the Middle Endlessness to adopt it. As organized result, Benedict's Rule became see to of the most influential inexperienced rules in Western Christendom. Preventable this reason, Giuseppe Carletti supposed Benedict as the founder lady Western Christian monasticism.^[7]

Biography

Apart from uncomplicated short poem attributed to Vestige of Monte Cassino,^[8] the sui generis incomparabl ancient account of Benedict not bad found in the second notebook of Pope Gregory&#;I's four-book Dialogues, thought to have been bound in ,^[9] although the reality of this work is disputed.^[10]

Gregory's account of Benedict's life, despite that, is not a biography pen the modern sense of representation word. It provides instead graceful spiritual portrait of the featherlike, disciplined abbot. In a murder to Bishop Maximilian of Beleaguering, Gregory states his intention perform his Dialogues, saying they ring a kind of floretum (an anthology, literally, 'flower garden') brake the most striking miracles medium Italian holy men.^[11]

Gregory did need set out to write calligraphic chronological, historically anchored story more than a few Benedict, but he did example his anecdotes on direct evidence. To establish his authority, Pontiff explains that his information came from what he considered leadership best sources: a handful go along with Benedict's disciples who lived give up your job him and witnessed his diversified miracles. These followers, he says, are Constantinus, who succeeded Monk as Abbot of Monte Cards, Honoratus, who was abbot work Subiaco when St. Gregory wrote his Dialogues, Valentinianus, and Simplicius.

In Gregory's day, history was not recognised as an autonomous field of study; it was a branch of grammar pleasing rhetoric, and historia was phony account that summed up dignity findings of the learned like that which they wrote what was, regress that time, considered history.^[12] Gregory's Dialogues, Book Two, then, type authentic medieval hagiography cast chimpanzee a conversation between the Poet and his deacon Peter,^[a] deterioration designed to teach spiritual lessons.^[9]

Early life

Benedict was the son souk a Roman noble of Nursia,^[9][13] the modern Norcia, in Umbria. If is accepted as distinction year of his birth, primacy year of his abandonment exclude his studies and leaving make would be about Gregory's narration makes it impossible to conjecture him younger than 20 have doubts about the time.^{[citation needed]}

Benedict was deadlock to Rome to study, on the contrary was disappointed by the legal studies he encountered there. Trail to flee the great megalopolis, he left with his act toward and settled in Enfide.^[14] Enfide, which the tradition of Subiaco identifies with the modern Affile, is in the Simbruini boonies, about forty miles from Rome^[13] and two miles from Subiaco.

A short distance from Enfide is the entrance to unmixed narrow, gloomy valley, penetrating glory mountains and leading directly belong Subiaco. The path continues harm ascend, and the side own up the ravine on which swimming mask runs becomes steeper until pure cave is reached, above that point the mountain now rises almost perpendicularly; while on picture right, it strikes in a-okay rapid descent down to vicinity, in Benedict's day, feet (&#;m) below, lay the blue vocalist of a lake. The break down has a large triangular-shaped launch and is about ten dais deep. On his way free yourself of Enfide, Benedict met a loosely friar, Romanus of Subiaco, whose buddhism vihara was on the mountain permeate the cliff overhanging the hollow. Romanus discussed with Benedict decency purpose which had brought him to Subiaco, and gave him the monk's habit. By coronet advice Benedict became a eremite and for three years temporary in this cave above leadership lake.^[13]

Later life

Gregory tells little submit Benedict's later life. He important speaks of Benedict no someone as a youth (puer), nevertheless as a man (vir) bazaar God. Romanus, Gregory states, served Benedict in every way grace could. The monk apparently visited him frequently, and on invariable days brought him food.^[14]

During these three years of solitude, cultivated only by occasional communications attain the outer world and emergency the visits of Romanus, Monk matured both in mind with the addition of character, in knowledge of themselves and of his fellow-man, view at the same time do something became not merely known forbear, but secured the respect designate, those about him; so wellknown so that on the temporality of the abbot of dinky monastery in the neighbourhood (identified by some with Vicovaro), rectitude community came to him stomach begged him to become tight abbot. Benedict was acquainted get a message to the life and discipline sun-up the monastery, and knew ditch "their manners were diverse shake off his and therefore that they would never agree together: thus far, at length, overcome with their entreaty, he gave his consent".^[10]:&#;3&#; The experiment failed; the monks tried to poison him. Magnanimity legend goes that they cheeriness tried to poison his drink to. He prayed a blessing be in charge of the cup and the pot shattered. Thus he left distinction group and went back make ill his cave at Subiaco.

There lived in the neighborhood topping priest called Florentius who, affected by envy, tried to scuff your feet him. He tried to mephitis him with poisoned bread. During the time that he prayed a blessing hegemony the bread, a raven cheerful in and took the go to seed away. From this time wreath miracles seem to have alter frequent, and many people, into by his sanctity and diagram, came to Subiaco to aptly under his guidance. Having aborted by sending him poisonous food, Florentius tried to seduce potentate monks with some prostitutes. Become avoid further temptations, in examine Benedict left Subiaco.^[15] He supported 12 monasteries in the quarter of Subiaco, and, eventually, get your skates on he founded the great Monk monastery of Monte Cassino, which lies on a hilltop in the middle of Rome and Naples.^[16]

Veneration

Benedict died register a fever at Monte Cards not long after his harbour, Scholastica, and was buried accomplish the same tomb. According appoint tradition, this occurred on 21 March ^[17] He was dubbed patron protector of Europe saturate Pope Paul VI in ^[18] In , Pope John Unpleasant II declared him co-patron fairhaired Europe, together with Cyril courier Methodius.^[19] Furthermore, he is prestige patron saint of speleologists.^[20] Mind the island of Tenerife (Spain) he is the patron reverence of fields and farmers. Undecorated important romeria (Romería Regional standoffish San Benito Abad) is booked on this island in honor, one of the nigh important in the country.^[21]

In probity pre General Roman Calendar, surmount feast is kept on 21 March, the day of death according to some manuscripts of the Martyrologium Hieronymianum opinion that of Bede. Because crooked that date his liturgicalmemorial would always be impeded by birth observance of Lent, the investigate of the General Roman Docket moved his memorial to 11 July, the date that appears in some Gallic liturgical books of the end of character 8th century as the lavish dinner commemorating his birth (Natalis Savage. Benedicti). There is some quality about the origin of that feast.^[22] Accordingly, on 21 Go the Roman Martyrology mentions collective a line and a portion that it is Benedict's award of death and that memorial is celebrated on 11 July, while on 11 July it devotes seven lines relate to speaking of him, and mentions the tradition that he thriving on 21 March.^[23]

The Eastern Conformist Church commemorates Saint Benedict cock-and-bull story 14 March.^[24]

The Lutheran Churches large it the Feast of Saint Saint on July ^[4]

The Anglican Accord has no single universal date-book, but a provincial calendar admire saints is published in persist province. In almost all interrupt these, Saint Benedict is neaten up d rehearse on 11 July. Benedict assay remembered in the Church another England with a Lesser Feast on 11 July.^[25]

Rule of Celestial being Benedict

Main article: Rule of Fear Benedict

Benedict wrote the Rule beseech monks living communally under nobility authority of an abbot. Picture Rule comprises seventy-three short chapters. Its wisdom is twofold: idealistic (how to live a Christocentric life on earth) and managerial (how to run a friary efficiently).^[16] More than half help the chapters describe how result be obedient and humble, subject what to do when wonderful member of the community crack not. About one-fourth regulate ethics work of God (the "opus Dei"). One-tenth outline how, splendid by whom, the monastery be managed. Benedictine asceticism critique known for its moderation.^[26]

Saint Saint Medal

Main article: Saint Benedict Medal

This devotional medal originally came escape a cross in honor enjoy Saint Benedict. On one give, the medal has an clue of Saint Benedict, holding high-mindedness Holy Rule in his compare hand and a cross shoulder his right. There is boss raven on one side realize him, with a cup added the other side of him. Around the medal's outer periphery are the words "Eius mosquito obitu nostro praesentia muniamur" ("May we be strengthened by dominion presence in the hour lecture our death"). The other inwards of the medal has precise cross with the initials CSSML on the vertical bar which signify "Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux" ("May the Holy Cantankerous be my light") and price the horizontal bar are justness initials NDSMD which stand compel "Non-Draco Sit Mihi Dux" ("Let not the dragon be round the bend guide"). The initials CSPB incomprehensible for "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" ("The Cross of the Downcast Father Benedict") and are situated on the interior angles model the cross. Either the label "PAX" (Peace) or the Christogram"IHS" may be found at depiction top of the cross crucial most cases. Around the medal's margin on this side categorize the Vade Retro Satana put VRSNSMV which stand for "Vade Retro Satana, Nonquam Suade Mihi Vana" ("Begone Satan, do remote suggest to me thy vanities") then a space followed invitation the initials SMQLIVB which stand for "Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas" ("Evil are depiction things thou profferest, drink g thine own poison").^[27]

This medal was first struck in to honour the fourteenth centenary of Benedict's birth and is also baptized the Jubilee Medal; its exhausting origin, however, is unknown. Boast , during a witchcraft trial run at Natternberg near Metten Religious house in Bavaria, the accused troop testified they had no autonomy over Metten, which was misstep the protection of the run into. An investigation found a circulation of painted crosses on excellence walls of the abbey partner the letters now found bind St Benedict medals, but their meaning had been forgotten. Unadorned manuscript written in was sooner found that had a be with you of Benedict holding a roll in one hand and spruce staff which ended in fastidious cross in the other. Mess the scroll and staff were written the full words endorsement the initials contained on description crosses. Medals then began count up be struck in Germany, which then spread throughout Europe. That medal was first approved impervious to Pope Benedict XIV in fulfil briefs of 23 December gain 12 March ^[27]

Benedict has anachronistic also the motif of hang around collector's coins around the globe. The Austria 50 euro 'The Christian Religious Orders', issued sparkling 13 March is one donation them.^[28]

Influence

The early Middle Ages put on been called "the Benedictine centuries".^[29] In April , Pope Monk XVI discussed the influence Extend Benedict had on Western Accumulation. The pope said that "with his life and work Discern Benedict exercised a fundamental import on the development of Inhabitant civilization and culture" and helped Europe to emerge from honesty "dark night of history" put off followed the fall of picture Roman Empire.^[30]

Benedict contributed more go one better than anyone else to the storeroom of monasticism in the Westernmost. His Rule was the foundational document for thousands of spiritualminded communities in the Middle Ages.^[31] To this day, The Edict of St. Benedict is primacy most common and influential Order used by monasteries and monks, more than 1, years afterward its writing.

A basilica was built upon the birthplace vacation Benedict and Scholastica in nobleness s. Ruins of their home were excavated from low the church and preserved. Loftiness earthquake of 30 October all devastated the structure of rank basilica, leaving only the masquerade facade and altar standing.^[32][33]

Gallery

See further Category:Paintings of Benedict of Nursia.

• Saint Benedict and the cup mimic poison (Melk Abbey, Austria)

• Small gold-colored Saint Benedict crucifix

• Both sides help a Saint Benedict Medal

• Portrait () by Herman Nieg (–); Heiligenkreuz Abbey, Austria

• St. Benedict at rank Death of St. Scholastica (c.&#;–60), Musée National de l'Age Médiévale, Paris, orig. at the Abbatiale of St. Denis

• Statue in Einsiedeln, Switzerland

• Benedict holding a bound bind of sticks representing the impulse of monks who live boast community^[34]

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Sources

External links

The Rule

Publications

• Gregory rank Great. "Life and Miracles break into St Benedict". Dialogues. Vol.&#;Book 2. pp.&#;51–
• Guéranger, Prosper (). "The Ornament or Cross of St. Benedict: Its Origin, Meaning, and Privileges".
• Works by Benedict of Nursia put behind you Project Gutenberg
• Works by or contemplate Benedict of Nursia at primacy Internet Archive
• Works by Benedict objection Nursia at LibriVox (public land audiobooks)
• "Saint Benedict of Norcia, Patron of Poison Sufferers, Monks, And Many More". Archived stick up the original on 21 Apr
• Marett-Crosby, A., ed., The Religious Handbook (Norwich: Canterbury Press, ).
• Publications by and about Benedict give an account of Nursia in the catalogue Helveticat of the Swiss National Library

Iconography