"'St. Benedict of Nursia was born in the year 480 in Nursia (now known as Norcia), in Umbria, Italy. Along with him was born a twin sister, who would come to be known as St. Scholastica. As a young man, St. Benedict was deeply affected by the loose morals of those in his community... He left his schooling to retreat away from the city of Rome, where he could spend time in prayer, contemplating what it was that God was asking of him.
Monasticism had a long lineage in Christian life going back to its founding in Egypt in the 300’s. The life was one of heroic virtue, with some monks practicing long fasts and other ascetic practices to the admiration of their followers. St. Benedict was of a more practical mind. He wanted to create a model of monastic life that would make it possible for ordinary men to follow every day. He also wanted to create a community with the abbot as the father guiding the monks in the daily practice of work and prayer. The idea that physical labor can be dedicated to God and be a means by which men and women may work out their salvation is a revolutionary concept in Western civilization....St. Benedict summed up his ideal in the Rule of St. Benedict which became one of the foundation documents of Western Christianity... Two of the more common phrases excerpted from the Rule of St. Benedict are: “Ora et Labora” (pray and work) and “Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ.” ...
St. Benedict was canonized in 1220 in Rome by Pope Honorius III. Originally his Feast Day was March 21, which is said to be the day he died. However, since this date falls within the Lenten season, his Feast Day was moved to July 11. His sister, St. Scholastica, is celebrated on February 10."
--Parish Bulletin, July 11, 2021