Apostleship of Prayer - Saints
July 11 - Saint BenedictAround about the year 480 AD Benedict was born in Umbrian mountain area of Norcia. His family parents belonged to the middle rank of the society of that time. As a young man he moved to Rome embarking upon an education in the classics. In Rome he discovered an aimless, empty society. He fled this decadent atmosphere of the city, moving to Affile in the Sabine Hills. Here be became a hermit in search of God. Benedict's life and search attracted other young people and so he set about organizing monasteries, the first one being Subiaco, which he built upon a mountain in the Apennine Chain.
Benedict chose a cenobitic way of life for his monks, that is, life lived in community with a rule and an Abbot. Around 528 0r 539, Benedict set up another community in the central Apennines at Monte Cassino. It was here that he wrote his rule which survives to this day as a means of guiding monastic in Benedictine spirituality. Benedict died in 547 AD.
Benedict's rule has as its main source the Rule of the Master. Benedict made numerous adaptations to this rule so as to enable his followers to live a balanced, prayerful, peace-filled life. seeking God through prayer, work, study, leisure and community.
Sr. Fran Nolan, SGS
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