Saint Benedict of Nursia
Benedict was born at Norcia in Umbria, Italy, around 480. He founded the order of the Benedictines, based on liturgical prayer and manual labor and well known for its Latin motto: Ora et labora (“Pray and work”). Benedict is thus considered the father of Western monasticism. (Giorgi, 2005)
A paragon of the monastic life, he was renowned for performing twelve miracles. During the course of his lifetime he progressed through seven stations rising from the caves of Subiaco, up the peak of Monte Casino, up a towel almost to the heavens gazing down on the entire world, finally being reunited in death with his sister Scholastica. (Fried, 2015)
He died in the abbey of Monte Cassino, which he had founded, in 547.He is depicted in black robes with a book, an abbot’s crosier, a raven with bread in its beak, a broken cup, a rod, or a bundle of rods. PROTECTOR: Farmers, Italian architects, chemists, peasants, engineers, and speleologists.PATRON: Benedict has been the patron saint of Europe since 1964.NAME: Benedict is of Latin origin and means “he who is blessed.” (Giorgi, 2005)