Saint benedict
"Listen with the ear of your heart" RB Prologue 1
Born: 480: Died: 547
Saint Benedict was born at Narsia in Umbria, Italy. Having origin of a rich Italian family, his life was full of adventure and joyous events. As a boy, he was sent to Rome to study in a public school but was troubled by the bad behaviour of the other pupils. When he was a young man, he became disgusted with the terrible lifestyle of pagan Rome (Romans who believed in false gods).
Saint Benedict left the city and went looking for a place where he could be alone to pray with God. He found the spot, a cave in the mountain of Subiaco. Saint Benedict spent three years there alone. He was often tempted him to go back to his rich home and easy life but Benedict prayed, did penance and did not give in to these temptations.
One day, when the devil sneakily tried to tempt him with bad thoughts and Benedict almost gave in to the temptation. Then he felt guilty of his sin so he threw himself into a bush of long, sharp thorns. He rolled around in the thorns until he was covered with wounds. From then on, his life was calm and balanced. He did not feel powerful temptations like that again.
After three years, people started coming to Saint Benedict for advice. They wanted to learn how to become holy. He became the leader of men who had asked for his help. But when he tried to make them do penance, they grew so angry that they tried to poison Saint Benedict. He made the Sign of the Cross over the poisoned wine and the glass shattered to pieces.
Later, Saint Benedict became the leader of many good monks. He started twelve monasteries. Then he went to Monte Cassino where he built his most well known monastery. It was here that St. Benedict wrote the rules for the Benedictine order. He taught his monks to pray and work hard in balance. He taught them especially to be humble always.
Saint Benedict and his monks greatly helped the people of their times. They taught them how to read and write, how to farm, and how to work different sort of trades. Saint Benedict was able to do good because he prayed continuously to God. He destroyed many pagan statues and altars where they worshiped the false gods. He died on March 21, 547. The pope proclaimed him the patron of Europe.
Ora et labora (pray and work) summed up the motto of the Benedictine order.
"Put Christ before all else."- The Rule of St Benedict
For more information go
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=26