St. Benedict the Father of western Monasticism and the founder of Benedictine Order, which has given to the church more than one dozen popes, and several thousand saints. He was born in Nursia, of well to do parents around 480 A.D. He was sent to Rome for higher studies where he found many students engaging themselves in immoral activities; he resolved to withdraw himself from the world, for he was afraid that if he associated with them, he might fall into the same trap and ruin his soul. In order to seek God alone, St. Benedict gave up home and inheritance. St. Gregory writes that during his boyhood he showed mature understanding and strength of character beyond his age.
After leaving school, he settled east of Rome at a Church in Effide – known today as Affile. There he became famous by performing a miracle. This led him to leave that place for more solitude and prayer. He found such a place in a small cave at Subiaco, where he led hermitical life. A monk called Romanus gave him the monastic habit, food and spiritual guidance; there he lived out the ascetic life in all its fullness. Slowly, others recognized his holiness and many came forward to follow his way of life. Thus, he was forced to establish different monasteries.
He formed twelve monasteries, with twelve monks in each of them. And of course, each monastery had its own spiritual father. Finally, he settled down at Monte Cassino-a Mountain top, where he built a monastery. The monasteries still stand in the same spot, though it was destroyed several times and had to be rebuilt again. It was there that St. Benedict wrote his famous Rule. The Rule is spiritual classic and is read even by many Benedictines who find it helpful in their spiritual life.
The Rule of St. Benedict is a little booklet. It contains seventy-three chapters and a prologue. This Rule has become famous for its discretion and flexibility. Moderation is the hallmark of the Benedictine Rule. As we go through the Rule, we see a systematic presentation of the regulations. At the end of the Rule, St. Benedict says that his rule is written for beginners. Then he continues that by observing this Rule in the monasteries, the monks may show that they have attained some degree of virtue and the rudiments of the religious life.
According to St. Gregory, St. Benedict had a holy death. When his health deteriorated due to a violent fever, his disciples carried him into the chapel, where he received the Body and Blood of our Lord. Then, supporting his weakened body on the arms of those brethren, he stood with his hands raised to heaven and as he prayed, breathed his last, the generally accepted date of St. Benedict’s death is 21st March 547.