The Life of St. Benedict

The Great Patriarch of the Western Monks (480-547 a.D.)

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• Publisher: TAN Books
• Year: 1995
• eBook ISBN: 9781505103366
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

The famous, classic life of St. Benedict, filled with miracles, holy stories and inspiring idealism. Delightful reading for all ages. Describes much of what is known about St. Benedict, including the founding of the Benedictine order.

THE LIFE OF ST. BENEDICT

From Book II of the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great

The Broken Sieve

Benedict left the schools and resolved to betake himself to the solitude, accompanied only by his nurse, who most tenderly loved him. Coming therefore to a place called Affile and remaining for some time in the church of St. Peter, at the charitable invitation of many virtuous people who lived there for devotion, so it chanced that his nurse borrowed of a neighbor a sieve to cleanse wheat, which, being left carelessly upon the table, was found broken in two pieces. Therefore on her return, finding it broken, she began to weep bitterly because it was only lent her. But the religious and pious boy, Benedict, seeing his nurse lament, was moved with compassion, and taking with him the two pieces of the broken sieve, with tears he gave himself to prayer, which, no sooner ended, he found the sieve whole and found not any sign that it had been broken. Then presently he restored the sieve whole to his nurse, to her exceeding comfort. This matter was divulged unto all that lived there about, and so much admired by all, that the inhabitants of that place caused the sieve to be hung up in the church porch, that not only those present, but all posterity might know with how great gifts of grace Benedict had been endowed from the beginning of his conversion. The sieve remained to be seen for many years after and hung over the church door even until the times of the Longobards.

But Benedict, more desirous to suffer afflictions than covetous of praise, and rather willing to undergo labors for the honor of God than to be extolled with the favors of this world, fled secretly from his nurse to a remote place in the desert called Subiaco, distant about forty miles from Rome.

St. Romanus Helps St. Benedict

As he was traveling to this place, a certain monk called Romanus met him and asked whither he was going. Having understood his intention, he both kept it secret and afforded him help; moreover, he gave him a religious habit and assisted him in all things. The man of God, being come to this place, lived for the space of three years in an obscure cave, unknown to any man except Romanus the monk. On certain days he would bring to Benedict a loaf of bread which he had spared from his own allowance. But, there being no way to the cave from Romanus’ cell, by reason of a steep and high rock which hung over it, Romanus used to let down the loaf by a long cord to which also he fastened a little bell, that by the sound of it, the man of God might know when Romanus brought him the bread and, going out, might receive it. But the old enemy [Satan], envying the charity of the one and the refection of the other, when on a certain day he beheld the bread let down in this manner, threw a stone and broke the bell. Notwithstanding, Roma nus afterwards failed not to assist him in the best manner he was able.

The Easter Meal

Now when it pleased Almighty God that Romanus should rest from his labors, and that the life of Benedict should be manifest to the world for an example to all men, that the candle set upon a candlestick might shine and give light to the whole Church of God, Our Lord vouchsafed to appear to a certain priest living far off, who had made ready his dinner for Easter day, saying to him, “Thou hast prepared good cheer for thyself, and My servant in such a place is famished with hunger.” Who presently rose up and, on the solemn day of Easter, went towards the place with such meat as he had provided for himself, where, seeking the man of God amongst craggy rocks, winding valleys and hollow pits, he found him hid in a cave. Then, after prayers and blessing the Almighty Lord, they sat down, and after some spiritual discourse the priest said, “Rise, and let us take our refection, for this is Easter day.” To whom the man of God answered, “I know it is Easter, because I have found so much favor as to see thee” (for, not having a long time conversed with men, he did not know it was Easter day). The good priest did therefore again affirm it, saying, “Truly, this is the day of Our Lord’s Resurrection, and therefore it is not fit that you should keep abstinence, and for this cause I am sent, that we may eat together that which Almighty God hath bestowed on us.” Whereupon, blessing God, they took their meal, and when the discourse and dinner were ended, the priest returned to his church.

About the same time, certain shepherds found him hid in a cave; who at first, spying him among the bushes, clothed in the skins of beasts, took him for some wild animal, but afterwards knowing him to be a man of God, many of them were converted from their savage life to virtue. By this means his life began to be famous in the country, and many did resort unto him, bringing with them necessaries for his body, while they received from his lips the food of life.

How He Overcame a Temptation Of the Flesh

The holy man, being on a certain day alone, the tempter was at hand; for a little black bird, commonly called thrush, began to fly about his face, and that so near that the holy man, if he would, might have taken it with his hand; but no sooner had he made the Sign of the Cross, than the bird vanished. When presently so great a carnal temptation assailed him that the holy man had never before felt the like. For the remembrance of a woman which sometime he had seen was so lively presented to his fancy by the wicked spirit, and so vehemently did her image inflame his breast with lustful desires, that almost overcome by pleasure, he was determining to leave the wilderness. But, suddenly assisted by divine grace, he came to himself, and seeing near him a thicket full of nettles and briars, he threw off his garments and cast himself naked into the midst of those sharp thorns and nettles, where he rolled himself so long, that when he rose up, his body was pitifully rent. Thus, by the wounds of his flesh he cured those of his soul. And after that time, as he himself related to his disciples, he was so free from the like temptation that he never felt any such motion.

Henceforth, many began to forsake the world to place themselves under his government. Being now altogether free from vice, he worthily deserved to be made a master of virtue.

How St. Benedict Broke a Glass By the Sign of the Cross

Not far off was a monastery, whose abbot being dead, the whole convent repaired to the venerable man Benedict and, with earnest persuasions requested him to be their abbot, which he refused for a long time, forewarning them that his manner of life and theirs would not agree; yet at length, overcome with importunity, he gave his consent. But when in the same monastery he began to observe regular discipline, the monks fell into a great rage and began therefore to plot his death, and after consultation, they poisoned his wine. So when the glass which contained the poisoned drink was, according to the custom of the monastery, presented at table to be blessed by the abbot, Benedict putting forth his hand and making the Sign of the Cross, the glass, which was held far off, broke in pieces as if he had thrown a stone against it. By this the man of God perceived that the glass had in it the drink of death which could not endure the sign of life. So presently rising up, with a mild countenance and tranquil mind, having called the brethren together, he thus spake unto them: “Almighty God in His mercy forgive you brethren; why have you dealt thus with me? Did I not foretell you that my manner of life and yours would not agree? Go and seek a superior to your liking, for you can have me no longer with you.” This said, he forthwith returned to the solitude he loved so well and lived there by himself in the sight of Him who seeth all things.

St. Benedict Receives St. Maurus And St. Placidus

The holy man for many years in that desert increased wonderfully in virtues and miracles, whereby a great number in those parts were gathered together in the service of Almighty God, so that, by the assistance of Our Lord Jesus Christ, he built there twelve monasteries, in each of which he put twelve monks with their superiors, and retained a few with himself, whom he thought to instruct further.

Now began diverse noble and devout personages from Rome to resort to him and commended their children to be brought up by him in the service of Almighty God. At the same time Equitius brought unto him Maurus, and Tertullus, a senator, brought his son Placidus, both very promising children, of which two, Maurus, although young, yet by reason of his progress in the school of virtue, began to assist his master, but Placidus was as yet a child of tender years.

St. Benedict Punishes The Indevout Monk

In one of those monasteries which he had built nearby was a certain monk who could not stay at his prayers, but as soon as he saw his brethren kneel and dispose themselves for their mental prayer, he would go out and there give his wandering thoughts to worldly and transitory things. For which, having been often admonished by his abbot, he was brought before the man of God, who also sharply reprimanded him for his folly; but returning to his monastery, he scarcely remembered two days what the man of God had said to him, for the third day he fell to his old cu...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Copyright Page
• NOTE
• CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Life of St. Benedict
• Conclusion
• The Medal of St. Benedict
• Prayers