BENEDICT, FATHER OF WESTERN MONASTICISM

Benedict of Nursia (480-547) is considered the Father of western monasticism. He was born in Italy, studied in Rome, and lived as a hermit for a time. Then monks, attracted by Benedict’s holiness, began attaching themselves to him. After several attempts at creating monastic communities, Benedict established a monastery on a mountain 80 miles south of Rome. He wrote a Rule which ordered the monks’ days. The Rule of Benedict was balanced and included vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, as well as physical labor and common meals with little conversation. Punctuality was necessary in the monks’ life together. They sought God in worship and prayer, worked, and pursued holy reading. The Benedictine monks learned to live in harmony with the monastery’s schedule, which changed somewhat with the seasons. Between November 1 and Easter the monks rose at the 8th hour of the night to worship and study. At lauds, the first, third, sixth, ninth hours, vesper, and compline, the monks assembled to serve God. At set times they engaged in physical work and holy reading to avoid idleness. Between Easter and October 1 the schedule changed. Thus the Benedictines learned to be punctual as they moved from one activity to another. The monks honored time and respected their brothers.

[Adapted from 131 Christians Everyone Should Know, Mark Galli, Broadman & Holman, Nashville 2000, and Eerdman’s Handbook to the History of Christianity,Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1977]

This material is published by the Faith Committee of the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Reproduction and Adaptation is encouraged.