¬St. Benedict's Parish
VISION/MISSION STATEMENT:
To become a prayer-filled community whose one desire is to live fully and bring the Gospel to the world.
SAINT BENEDICT ABBOT
FOUNDER OF WESTERN MONASTICISM—480-550 A.D.
During the fifth century, Italy and the entire Mediterranean area was being overrun by the half-civilized, pagan Arians. Consequently the Roman Empire was quickly falling back into barbarism, the Church was torn by conflict and in both the city and the countryside alike desolation and destruction abounded threatening the existence of both society as it was then known and the Church. Before the year 500 Benedict of Nursia (born about 480), the son of a noble of that region, was sent to Rome to continue his studies. We know little of his background except that he came from Umbria in north central Italy and that he had a sister Scholastica (traditionally spoken of as his twin) who had consecrated herself to God from childhood.
Sent to Rome to be educated, the young Benedict was revolted by the slack attitude of his fellow students. Benedict left Rome in disgust and made his way to Subiaco in the mountains where he met Romanus, a monk, who gave him a habit on hearing of Benedict’s desire to take up monastic life. For three years Benedict lived in an all but inaccessible cave with Romanus sharing his food with him, passing it to Benedict by means of a rope down over the lip of the cave.
During his time as a hermit in many came to seek his advice as the word spread of a holy man living in the mountains. Benedict fought many battles with temptations from both the devil and the flesh. Over time the wisdom Benedict gained through these experiences would be shared with us all in his ...