St. Benedict of Nursia
| Saint Benedict of Nursia | |
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_-_Sacristy_-_triptych_by_Giovanni_Bellini_-_Saint_Benedict_of_Nursia_and_Saint_Mark.jpg)
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| Abbot Patron of Europe (Patronus Europae) |
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| Born | c. 2 March 480 Norcia, Umbria, Kingdom of Odoacer |
| Died | 21 March 543 Monte Cassino, Kingdom of the Ostrogoths |
| Venerated in |
Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Eastern Catholic Churches Anglican Communion Lutheran Church Oriental Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | 1220, Rome, Papal States by Pope Honorius III |
| Major shrine |
Monte Cassino Abbey, with his burial |
| Feast | 11 July (General Roman Calendar), (Anglican Communion) 14 March (Byzantine Rite) 21 March (pre-1970 General Roman Calendar) |
| Attributes | -Bell -Broken tray -Broken cup and serpent representing poison -Broken utensil -Bush -Crosier -Man in a Benedictine cowl holding Benedict's rule or a rod of discipline -Raven |
| Patronage | -Against poison -Against witchcraft -Agricultural workers -Cavers -Civil engineers -Coppersmiths -Dying people -Erysipelas -Europe -Farmers -Fever -Gall stones -Heerdt (Germany) -Heraldry and Officers of arms -the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest -Inflammatory diseases -Italian architects -Kidney disease -Monks -Nettle rash -Norcia, (Italy) -People in religious orders -Schoolchildren and students -Servants who have broken their master's belongings -Speleologists -Spelunkers -Temptations |
Monte Cassino Abbey, with his burial
Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, near Orléans, France
Benedict of Nursia (Latin: Benedictus de Nursia; Italian: Benedetto da Norcia; c. 2 March 480 – 543 or 547 AD) is a Christian saint, who is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion and Old Catholic Churches. He is a patron saint of Europe.
Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, Lazio in Italy (about 40 miles (64 km) to the east of Rome), before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. The Order of Saint Benedict is of later origin and, moreover, not an "order" as commonly understood but merely a confederation of autonomous congregations.
Benedict's main achievement is his "Rule of Saint Benedict", containing precepts for his monks. It is heavily influenced by the writings of John Cassian, and shows strong affinity with the Rule of the Master. But it also has a unique spirit of balance, moderation and reasonableness (ἐπιείκεια, epieikeia), and this persuaded most religious communities founded throughout the Middle Ages to adopt it. As a result, his Rule became one of the most influential religious rules in Western Christendom. For this reason, Benedict is often called the founder of western monasticism.
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