We do not know much about his life. Benedict was born into a noble family of Nursia, a city of the province of Perugia in the central part of modern-day Italy. In his late teens he was sent to Rome but soon became disappointed with urban life and abandoned his studies. He then chose to become a hermit and later went on to found 12 communities. He is known for the Rule (RB) he wrote for his monks. Here are some of the sayings from the Rule of Benedict:
- Listen and attend with the ear of your heart. (RB Prologue 1)
- In drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome. (RB Prologue 45-46)
- Arrange everything that the strong have something to strive for and the weak nothing to run from. (RB 64:19)
- Do not overdo it; otherwise, by rubbing too hard to remove the rust, you break the vessel (RB 64:11)
- Listen ... with the ear of your heart. (RB Prologue)
(I am grateful to a member of our Columban Professional Standards Committee for these quotations. She used these sayings as the basis of the opening prayer of our recent meeting.)
They show how Benedict's Rule can still speak to our world today. By the way, Benedict is patron of so many groups, including school children, cavers, civil engineers, architects, copper smiths and dying people. He is one to turn to for those suffering from effects of poisons, nettle rash, gall stones and kidney disease. It seems that he has been busy long after his entry into heaven. So, feel free to seek Benedict's help.
Tom Rouse
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