
This week, we celebrate the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, the patron saint of Europe. He is known not only for establishing the Benedictine Order, but for shaping 1500 years of monastic life with his guide, the Rule, which offers practical instruction for holy orders. As we remember his dedication to service, charity, and compassion, we invite you to learn more about his life and where you can find him portrayed in the Basilica.
St. Benedict’s Early Life

When St. Benedict was born in 480 A.D., the Western Roman Empire had only just fallen. By the time he went to study law and literature in Rome as a young man, the region was still fraught with political turmoil and cultural dysfunction. The more Benedict witnessed his peers chase after worldly pleasures and vices, the more disillusioned he became, until he finally decided to retreat to modern-day Affile to join a group of priests.
In Affile, St. Benedict found both blessings and trials. According to tradition, he performed a series of miracles there, including fixing a wheat sifter that had been shattered to pieces by a servant. After gaining notoriety for these miracles, Benedict sought to distance himself from society and took residence in a cave near the ruins of Nero’s village. For three years, he lived as a hermit, limiting his interactions almost solely to his meetings with a fellow monk named Romanus and some local shepherds who sought his spiritual guidance.
Benedict’s Life at Vicovaro and Subiaco
The next chapter of Benedict’s life was fraught with unexpected perils and responsibilities. When the men of one of the nearby monasteries at Vicovaro convinced him to become their abbot, St. Benedict expressed concern that his standards would prove too strict for them. It was not long before he encountered resistance – to the extent that another monk at Vicovaro attempted to poison him. However, God spared his life, and he retreated to Subiaco, a town between Rome and Naples. There, St. Benedict founded 12 communities of monks, and a 13th as a training monastery for young monks. But once again, his notoriety and miracles angered other priests. Because of their opposition, Benedict left to establish the Abbey of Montecassino, which is now one of the world’s most famous monasteries.
Life at Montecassino
Though the building at Montecassino had formerly been an ancient pagan acropolis, Benedict transformed it into a place of holy service. At Montecassino, he established the monastic order now known as the Benedictines, performed miracles, started a work of evangelism to the pagans, and wrote the Rule of St. Benedict. With its practical instructions for monastic life, the Rule would become a foundational text for the operation of holy orders over the next 1500 years. Characterized by its moderation and emphasis on balance, the Rule prescribed dividing the workday into nearly equal parts of manual labor, liturgical work, and theological study.
Throughout his teachings, Benedict emphasized the importance of labor, charity, and living in community. Today, over 7,500 monks and 13,000 nuns and sisters belong to the Benedictine order, carrying on his legacy around the world today. You can find him portrayed in the North Façade of the Basilica.
Sources:
“A Life of Saint Benedict,” Saint Benedict Website.
“Saint Benedict,” Franciscan Media.
“St. Benedict,” Britannica.
“St. Benedict, Abbott, Patron of Europe,” Vatican News.