St. Benedict of Nursia
was born into an aristocratic family around 480 in the Umbrian province
of Nursia. Around 500 he retired to a cave in a place, which was to become
known as Sacro Speco near the Lake of Subiaco. In 529 Benedict founded the
Abbey of Monte Cassino and composed his famous Rule, which has served ever
since as a basis both for Benedictines and for western monastic life generally.
Benedict was the spiritual forefather of all the western orders, and is
called the Patriarch of western monasticism. He is the patron of the Benedictine
Order and, since 1964, of Europe. In fine art he is often depicted with
a raven, carrying off the poisoned bread with which some rebellious monks
wanted to poison him, a cup (broken, or with a snake crawling out of it). |
