St. Benedict of Nursia
St. Benedict (480-547) and his twin sister, St. Scholastica, were born to a Roman nobleman and his wife in Nursia, Italy. He spent his childhood with his parents in Rome. As a young man he found in himself a strong desire to escape the triflings of the world and serve God. He left his family and wealth and settled in the mountainous region of Subiaco.
After three years living in solitude as a cave-dwelling hermit,
he was asked to lead a monastery in the place of an abbot who had died.
Benedict did as they asked, but his way of life was too extreme for the monks
and they tried to poison him. He thwarted their evil designs by blessing the
poisoned cup, rendering it ineffective.
Benedict returned to his cave, where news of his sanctity and
miracles began to spread. Soon a community of men surrounded him wanting to
adopt his way of life. To house them Benedict established twelve monasteries,
including the world-famous Monte Cassino, and gave them a rule of life
to live by, known as the Rule of St. Benedict. Because of the
organization, structure, and disciple he brought to the monastic life, he is
known as the Founder of Western Monasticism.
He is the patron saint of many causes, especially known for his
intercession against poison, temptations, witchcraft, monks, students,
farmers, and all of Europe.
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