Biography of Benedict of Nursia

Contemplate and act

Year of birth: 480 21 March 547 Benedetto da Norcia was founded in 480 in the Umbrian town. Due to good economic level of its original family-his mother was Countess di Norcia-is sent to study in Rome when she's only 12. The impact with the dissolute life of the capital leads him to abandon the Humanities for fear of being involved in the same debauchery of his comrades. The abandonment of studies actually coincides with the birth of his religious vocation. So just 17 years retired to Eufide in the Aniene Valley along with his old nurse Cirilla, leaning only occasionally to a nearby community of Friars. His idea of religious life becomes increasingly close to the Hermitage and meditation in solitude. Let then the nurse and heads to Subiaco, where, thanks to the contact with a monk from a monastery near, discovers an inhospitable cave near mount Teleo. And it is precisely in the cave that remains as a hermit for three years. After the experience of the Hermitage, in 500 heads to a monastery near Vicovaro, but is forced to leave almost immediately following an attempted poisoning perpetrated against the monks. Back in Subiaco, which remains his home for about thirty years. During this time, Benedetto undergo a series of tests, which are essential for him to become the spokesperson for a new monastic order. Try therefore to forge his religious character resisting the temptation of self-assertion and pride, the temptation of sensuality and those of anger and revenge. After passing this difficult course, he founded a number of communities d monks, about thirteen, formed by twelve monks and an Abbot, regarded as a spiritual leader. In 529 leave Subiaco, according to some sources to conflict with a local cleric, according to a new attempted poisoning for a monastery. He heads towards Cassino and founded the famous monastery. Right in the monastery of Montecassino processes in 540 his rule, which comes as a form of regulation of monastic life. He himself defines it: "minimal, drawn just to the beginning". In fact, the rule contains many useful information for organizing the life of the monasteries. When Benedict parses the monks do not have a stable residence but live in a drifter. In his rule, then that is a summary of the content of the Gospels, States that each Friar must choose a unique monastery where stay until death. It also establishes that day inside the monasteries should be punctuated by moments of prayer, study and work according to the motto "ora et labora" (pray and work). Prayer is the most important moment in the life of a monk, and, according to Benedict, must be first and foremost an act of listening to be translated into concrete action and real. He theorizes, therefore, the importance of a solid fusion of contemplation and action. The rule stipulates that each community should be headed by an Abbot, who is not considered a superior, but sort of loving father and spiritual leader: Abbot is derived from Syriac term "abba," father. In fact the Abbot takes place inside the monastery the place of Christ in a continuous exchange with other confreres, as Christ with his twelve disciples. Benedict of Nursia at Monte Cassino, he spent the last years of his life, and here he died on 21 March of 547, after six days of severe fevers. According to sources he died standing, supported by his fellow monks to whom infuses the last words of courage. After his death, the body and then the relics become object of worship. As often happens in the middle ages, many different cities vie for possession of the relics. For Benedict in particular the clash is between Montecassino and the French town of Fleury sur Loire. According to the trial held in 1881 the true relic, except a jaw and another bone of the skull, is kept in the French town. Beyond dispute, the cult of the Saint persists to Monte Cassino where he lived and worked and where they celebrated the feast every July 11, the day dedicated to him after the Pontiff Pope Paul VI awarded him the title of patron saint of Europe.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.