Today is the memorial of St. BenedictMemorial: July 11
Born: 480
Died: 547
Lived: Italy
Occupation/Station: Abbot
Best Known For:
Benedict created what is now known as the Rule of Saint Benedict, which is a set of instructions for living a monastic life. It was this new way of life and the founding of the Monte Cassino monastery that helped make him the patriarch of western monks.
Interesting Facts:
After years of being a hermit in the mountains of Subiaco, living a life of solitude and prayer, St. Benedict began to attract fellow monks from around the area. The monks insisted that he be their leader. St. Benedict warned the monks that his way of life would be too strict for them. It appears that St. Benedict knew what he was talking about, because they ended up tying to poison him. St. Benedict lived only to have more followers wanting to live his monastic way of life.
Patron Saint Of: Farmers, Chemists, Engineers, Europe
Author Of: Rule of St. Benedict
Association with Other Saints: St. Scholastica, his sister
Websites: http://www.e-benedictine.com/