Saint of the day July 11: Saint Benedict. Catholic Saints

Every July 11, the Catholic Church celebrates Saint Benedict of Nursia, founder of Western monasticism, patriarch of the monks of the West and patron of Europe. He is also known as Saint Benedict, Abbot.

God full time

The life maxim of Saint Benedict – with which he has inspired Christianity throughout the centuries – was “now it works for you” (pray and work), a perfect synthesis of his life proposal and a call to unity between contemplation and action.

The legacy of this great saint has definitively influenced the formation and development of monasticism – for those men and women called to seek God in solitude and silence – and today, after many centuries, he continues to inspire those who assume the responsibility. task of making prayer action, and action prayer. Saint Benedict’s ideal was always the complete surrender of the monk to God: a full-time surrender.

God in silence

Saint Benedict was born in Nursia (Italy), in the year 480. He had a twin sister, Scholastica, who would also achieve sainthood. After having studied rhetoric and philosophy in Rome, Benedict retired to the city of Enfide (present-day Affile) to dedicate himself more deeply to study and ascetic discipline.

Not satisfied with what he had achieved until then, at the age of 20 the saint marched towards Mount Subiaco to live in absolute solitude. There he settled in a cave. Later he would become the spiritual guide of a hermit. Years later, as part of the search for him, he joined the monks of Vicovaro, who elected him prior by virtue of his disciplined spirit.

In Vicovaro the first animosities against Benedict arose, appearing in the hearts of the monks who did not agree with the discipline imposed by the saint. Some of his brothers in the monastery even conspired to assassinate him.

Tradition has it that one day, at mealtime, one of the monks served Benedict a glass of poisoned water. The abbot received it and placed it on the table in front of him. Before drinking, as usual, he made the sign of the cross and accidentally hit the cup, which fell to the ground, breaking into pieces. A suspicious commotion occurred after the event that ended the conspirators, who were exposed. This prompted Saint Benedict to leave that monastery definitively, but not before reproaching those “men of God” for the seriousness of his actions.

Builder of Europe

After that sad episode, accompanied by a group of young people encouraged by his teaching, Benedict dedicated himself to the foundation and organization of other monasteries in various places in central Europe, among which the one built in Monte Cassino (Italy) stood out.

Convinced that monastic life requires order and harmony, he was encouraged to write his famous Ruler, which has served as support for countless other regulations of religious communities over time. At the same time, the abbot worked to make his monasteries authentic centers of human and spiritual formation, in which culture and tradition were preserved.

Thanks to these characteristic notes, his project took shape and became a kind of cultural and spiritual network that linked Europe at that time. The monastic lifestyle aroused such enthusiasm that thousands of Christians found themselves called to leave the world behind to dedicate themselves to God in the silent cloisters of a monastery.

European monasticism served as the basis for the expansion of Christian culture in the Old Continent. The network of monasteries spread everywhere was the seed of educational systems and became the cultural reserve of the West. Most important cities in today’s Europe arose around a monastery, or were organized following its rhythm and inspiration.

The duty of a monk

Whenever attention is paid to the figure of Saint Benedict it should be done with respect and care. The temptation to reduce his feat to a purely organizational attempt resulting from a certain obsession with discipline is a mistake. Incurring in a simplification of that magnitude can only lead to a string of misinterpretations. Nothing could be further than identifying the beauty of religious life with meaningless external sacrifices.

It must be kept in mind that Benedict, father of monasticism, was before anything else a man of prayer, a person aware that time dedicated to God is essential to transform life and build the common good. The practice of charity must always be linked to an intimate relationship with God.

Certainly, Benito was a demanding man, but also known for his kind treatment and generosity. His daily life began at dawn, when he got up to pray the psalms and meditate on Scripture. He only went out to preach after having fulfilled his duties in the monastery.

He liked to practice fasting and was convinced that monks should spend their time in some type of physical effort. Work was for him an honorable path to holiness.

Far from the world, closer to heaven

Saint Benedict performed many miracles during his lifetime: he cured the sick and raised the dead. He faced the devil personally and performed exorcisms, always with the cross in his hand – hence the devotion to the Cross of Saint Benedict. He collected alms to ensure food for his brothers and help those in need. He consoled many who sank into sadness and restored their spirits.

The great abbot died on March 21, 547, a few days after his sister, Saint Scholastica. Saint Benedict died in the chapel of his monastery, with his hands raised to heaven, in a prayerful gesture, as if echoing something that he himself repeated: “You must have an immense desire to go to heaven.”

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If you want to know more about Saint Benedict of Nursia, we suggest this article from the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_Benito_de_Nursia.

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