The Monk Benedict
Commemorated on March 14
The Monk Benedict,
founder of the western monastic order of the Benedictines, was born in the
Italian city of Nursia in the year 480. At 14 years of age the saint was sent
off by his parents for studies at Rome, but vexed at the immorality there
surrounding him, he decided to devote himself to a different sort of life. At
first Saint Benedict settled near the church of the holy Apostle Peter in the
village of Effedum, but news about his ascetic life compelled him to go farther
into the mountains. There he encountered the hermit Romanus, who tonsured him
into monasticism and directed him to a remote cave for a domicile. From time to
time the hermit would bring the saint food. For three years in total solitude
the saint waged an harsh struggle with temptations and conquered them. People
soon began to gather to him, thirsting to live under his guidance. The number
of disciples grew so much, that the saint divided them into twelve communities.
Each community was comprised of twelve monks and was a separate
skete-monastery. And to each skete the saint gave an hegumen-abbot from among
his experienced disciples.
With the Monk
Benedict remained only the new-made monks for instruction.
The strict
monastic-rule, established by Saint Benedict for the monks, was not taken to
heart by everyone, and the monk more than once became the victim of abuse and
vexation.
Finally he settled in
Campagna and on Mount Cassino he founded the Monte Cassino monastery, which for
a long time was a centre of theological education for the Western Church. At
the monastery was created a remarkable library. And at this monastery the Monk
Benedict wrote his ustav-rule, based on the experience of life of the Eastern
wilderness-dwellers and the precepts of the Monk John Cassian the Roman (Comm.
29 February). The monastic-rule was accepted afterwards by many of the Western
monasteries (by the year 1595 it had come out in more than 100 editions). The
rule prescribed for monks an absolute renunciation of personal possessions,
unconditional obedience and constant work. It was considered the duty of older
monks to teach children and to copy out ancient manuscripts. This helped to
preserve many memorable writings, belonging to the first centuries of
Christianity. Every new postulant was required to live as a novice-obedient
over the course of a year, to learn the monastic rule and to become acclimated
to monastic life. Every deed required a blessing. The head of this common-life
monastery is the hegumen-abbot, having all the fulness of power. He discerns,
teaches and explains. The hegumen solicits the advice of the elders and the
experienced brethren, but he personally makes the decision. The fulfilling of
the monastic-rule is strictly binding for everyone and is regarded as an
important step, nigh to perfection.
Saint Benedict was
vouchsafed of the Lord the gift of foresight and wonderworking. He healed many
by his prayers. The monk foretold his end beforehand.
The sister of Saint
Benedict, Saint Scholastica, likewise became famed for her strict ascetic life
and was ennumerated to the ranks of the Saints.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
