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St. BenedictWho We Are“Listen carefully, my daughter, to the master’s instruction, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.” Benedict and his twin sister, Scholastica, were born in Norcia, Italy in 480. The Roman Empire was crumbling both physically and spiritually and times in Europe were very unstable. Deeply affected by the increased tyranny, Benedict retreated into the hills of Subiaco and lived as a hermit for three years. Often depicted with a raven, tradition has it that the birds fed Benedict during this time. People were drawn to Benedict and his spiritual example. A great number of men gathered around Benedict because they saw his holiness and desired to seek God. Benedict founded twelve monasteries. As he explored this way of life, he wrote a set of guidelines for the Christians who entered the monasteries. This guide came to be known as the Rule of Benedict. Focusing on stability, respect, prayer and communal living, it offered an example of how life could be lived, even during societal and cultural upheaval. The Feast of St. Benedict is March 21, but because it falls during Lent, the church celebrates the Solemnity of Benedict on July 11.
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