St. Benedict had heard of this monastery, and he knew that the way they conducted their lives was different than how St. Benedict felt the monastic life should be lived. However, he was not impressed by the dissolute lives of others in his generation and at about the age of 20 retreated into a cave near Enfide. The U.S. Supreme Court: Who Are the Nine Justices on the Bench Today? During his time as a hermit, a raven would bring him food to eat. The two sides of a Saint Benedict Medal. However, he blessed the drink and the poison did not affect him. This would be the basis on which centuries of monastic life would flourish and give to Western Christianity a model of stability on which Western culture could grow. 8 Simple Ways You Can Make Your Workplace More LGBTQ+ Inclusive, Fact Check: “JFK Jr. Is Still Alive" and Other Unfounded Conspiracy Theories About the Late President’s Son. His Rule helped create Europe, one monastery at a time. Today we celebrate the feast of St Benedict’s Transitus, his passing from this world to the next, with the sober joy characteristic of all Benedictine festivities, especially during Lent.The account Gregory the Great gives of his death in Book II of The Dialogues is strangely moving, despite all the typology he manages to cram into it. However, since this date falls within the Lenten season, his feast day was moved to July 11. Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet. St. Benedict is the Patron Saint of Europe and Students. Saint Benedict is the patron of Europe, kidney disease and students. . I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God. Today is St Benedict day, and St Benedict is the patron saint of Europe. It deals with the question of how an individual monk may live each day with his mind on Christ as he works and prays. In the “Rule,” there are 73 short chapters with two different types of focus: spiritual and administrative. What Is St. Benedict the Patron Saint Of. Shortly after St. Scholastica’s death, St. Benedict came down with a high fever and died. During these years, St. Benedict grew in holiness and maturity, coming to understand himself and others more deeply. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Saint Benedict the Moor, O.F.M., (Italian: Benedetto da San Fratello, 1526 – April 4, 1589) was an Italian Franciscan friar in Sicily who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Lutheran churches. He grew up with the expectation that he would follow his family’s wishes for a career in Roman government. Continue reading about St. Benedict the Moor Benedict is also the patron saint of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate. The Rule has only 73 short chapters. Benedict was the son of a Roman noble of Nursia, a small town near Spoleto, and a tradition, which St. Bede accepts, makes him a twin with his sister St. Scholastica. The saint is the source of St. Anthony’s bread, which people baked in his honor and gave to the poor. It is said that St. Benedict looked to the sky and saw the soul of his sister ascending to heaven like a dove. St. Benedict the Abbot was the founder of Western monasticism, the author of the famous Benedictine Order, and the patron saint of Europe. Inspire me to imitate you in all things. what is st benedict the patron saint of; what is st benedict the patron saint of. Others who count St Benedict as their patron saint include farmers & agricultural workers, cavers, the Officers of Arms responsible for heraldry, Italian architects, coppersmiths. It is said that Benedict went to implement his rule at a monastery, but some of the monks there thought it was too hard to follow. He is known as the “father of Western monasticism ,” having established a Rule that would become the norm for innumerable Christian monks and nuns. The medal is often worn as a necklace, but can also be carried in one’s pocket, attached to a rosary, placed in the home, or placed in the center of a cross/crucifix. In Roman society, work was what slaves did, while the aristocracy commanded them and used their leisure time to speculate on the meaning of life. Help me, great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the sweetness of His loving will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. St Benedict is the patron of European civilization. St. Benedict was a religious reformer who lived in Italy in the late 400s and early 500s. God had heard her prayers and allowed for the two saints to remain with one another just a bit longer, in prayer and spiritual discussion. St Benedict Medal – Sterling Silver – Large, St Benedict Medal – Sterling Silver – XLarge, St Benedict Medal – Sterling Silver – Medium, St Benedict Medal – Sterling Silver with 18 in. It is a striking medal different than most because of the number of images and Latin phrases or initials for Latin phrases. Less than one year after his death, June 13, 1231, Anthony was canonized. The medal was first struck in 1880 in commemoration of the 14th century since the birth of St. Benedict, though earlier versions were made throughout Europe. St. Benedict founded twelve monasteries around the Subiaco area. Europe in Benedict's life was full of trouble, much more than we have today. St. Benedict's teachings are still followed by the Catholic Church, as of 2015. Chain (#81067), St Benedict Medal – 14 Karat Gold Filled – Medium, Engravable, St Benedict Medal – Sterling Silver – Medium, Engravable, St Benedict Medal – Sterling Silver with 20 in. Although he desired to live a life of solitude by choosing the life of a hermit and living in a cave, when word of his holiness and devout life reached the nearby monks, they persuaded him to oversee to become their abbot. His feast day is April 4th. Along with him was born a twin sister, who would come to be known as St. Scholastica. At this, St. Scholastica bowed her head and wept. Benedict of Nursia is a Christian saint venerated in the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion and Old Catholic Churches. See Wikipedia for more. There has long been a medal dedicated to St Benedict of Nursia. Amen. While living in his cave in Subiaco, his reputation for sanctity became known throughout the region, and many people began to visit, seeking his guidance. As he matured in wisdom, age, and grace, others noted his qualities and invited him to lead their local community of monks. 550 . The Rule also covers the duties of the abbot running the monastery as a father, leading the community to live in harmony with God and one another. Born of African slaves in San Fratello, he was freed at … Spelunkers Benedict’s First Miracle: At Enfide, Benedict worked his first miracle by restoring to perfect condition an earthenware wheat-sifter (capisterium) which his old servant had accidentally broken. Monasticism had a long lineage in Christian life going back to its founding in Egypt in the 300’s. for monasteries which became fundamental for Western Monasticism. Meanings, definition and origins - a patron is considered to be a defender of a specific group of people or of a nation. Your email address will not be published. In the fifth century, the young Benedict was sent to Rome to finish his education with a nurse/housekeeper. Since he was unable to leave, he stayed there, up all night with her, talking about the joys of heaven and the power of God. All in all, quite a long list. Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces which I need so much in the trials, miseries, and afflictions of life. Declared Patron Saint of Europe in 1964 by Paul VI Feast day - 11th July. The “Rule of St. Benedict” was written to help keep the monasteries he had founded running according to the spirit and dedication with which they were established. Saint Benedict began his adult life as a hermit, trying to escape the horrors of war. St. Benedict (c. 480 - c. 547) ... Saint Benedict is the Patron Saint of: Civil Engineers. One of the more widely known saints, St. Benedict left behind a legacy in the Church that impacts our world even today, some 1500 years later. St. Benedict is considered by many to be the “father of western monasticism.” Perhaps the most popularized symbol of St. Benedict is that of the medal worn by many Catholics, which contains images of his life that convey a message of trust in God’s power and in His ability to overcome evil. Then he discovered a monk named Romanus living in the mountains of Subiaco, near Enfide. Benedict died on 21 March 543, not long after his sister. The St Benedict medal . Benedict of Nursia was a monk and abbot who lived in the 5th and 6th century AD. A COVID-19 Prophecy: Did Nostradamus Have a Prediction About This Apocalyptic Year? When St. Benedict said a prayer over his drink, though, it shattered. St. Benedict and the breadFor a short time St. Benedict lived among a group of virtuous, like-minded men in Enfide. The Order of Saint Benedict is of later origin and, moreover, … The spiritual chapters teach the monks how to conduct themselves, as well as how to correct others whose behavior has become errant. Originally his feast day was March 21, which is said to be the day he died. The administrative chapters state how the monastery should be run, detailing the responsibilities of the abbot. With Europe dealing with financial and political problem right now I thought it worth taking a look at St Benedict's life and life and how the patron saint of Europe might help us today. Chain, St Benedict Tiny Charm – 14 Karat Gold Filled, St Benedict Rosary – Light Amethyst Beads, St Benedict Medal – 14 KT Gold – Medium, Engravable. He studied in Rome and later went to the mountains near Subiaco where he lived as a hermit in a cave for three years. His incorrupt body is on display to this very day for all to see. Guard us against poisoning of the body as well as of mind and soul, and thus be truly a “Blessed” one for us. He was buried alongside his sister, as he had requested. When the abbot of a nearby monastery died, the community came to St. Benedict and begged him to be their new abbot, for they had heard that he was a wise and good man. He was a man of strength, conviction, and courage. When it was time for St. Benedict to return to his monastery, St. Scholastica begged him to stay with her, for she was enjoying the conversation and the company so much. He is the patron saint of Europe and students. Saint Benedict has been the patron saint of Europe since 1954 and he is the protector of speleologists, engineers, peasants, chemists, Italian architects, and farmers. Prayers are considered more likely to be answered by asking a patron for intercession on their behalf. You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you. What we understand today of the dignity of work as a necessary part of a mature Christian life was created by the life promoted by St Benedict. Benedict is said to have escaped their attempts to poison him by miraculous means, once with a cup of poisoned wine shattering as he blessed it. The surname "the Moor" is a misnomer originating from the Italian IL MORO (the black.) St. Benedict was not the only one of the twins to enter into a life of monasticism. As a young man, St. Benedict was deeply affected by the loose morals of those in his community – for he could see the damage that their actions was having on their own souls and on the souls of others. CEO Compensation and America's Growing Economic Divide. St Benedict the Moor was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1743 and was canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807. Practicing what you preached, you founded the monastic tradition of the West by joining prayer to labor for God—both liturgical and private prayer. Four Way Medal in Gold Plated Sterling Silver, St Brendan with Navy Medal - Sterling Silver with 18 in. May they labor and pray for the world to the greater glory of God. Saint Benedict's Saint Day is July 11. Sometimes seen with him are a cup, bread, and a raven, which tell the story of the poisoning attempts made on him. St. Dymphna (Patron Saint of Depression and Mental Illness) St. Dymphna is an Irish saint who was killed by her own father when he went mad from grief after the death of his beloved wife. Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. Saint Benedict is the patron saint of school children, Europe, kidney disease and poisoning. St. Benedict, always faithful to his rule, told her it would not be possible. St. Benedict is also the patron saint of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate. So, is the Avengers’ Infinity Gauntlet Really the Incorrupt Hand of St. Teresa of Avila. St. Benedict is often depicted in art as an older man (usually with white/gray hair), wearing a black monastic robe. The idea that physical labor can be dedicated to God and be a means by which men and women may work out their salvation is a revolutionary concept in Western civilization. Many miracles are said to have taken place during this time. Trusting in your intercession I turn to you seeking prayers for (name person) and any who suffer from diseases of the kidneys.. Pray dear saint that if it be God’s will for them that they be healed and restored to fullness of health. 0 0 1. The first official approval of the medal was made by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741. Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbor. The St. Benedict medal is believed to be a very powerful medal, as it declares the wearer’s trust in God’s authority over evil and His ability to protect His children. His attributes include: a bell, cup and serpent representing poison, broken utensil, crosier, and raven. Romanus explained to St. Benedict his reason for retreating from the world to live in a mountain cave. St. Benedict was born into a Roman noble family with his twin sister Scholastica. Amen. According to a well attested tradition, the relics of St Benedict were. He is also one of the saints who helps protect people against temptations. There is an interesting story as to why St. Benedict is the patron saint of kidney problems. In 1964, Pope Paul VI named Saint Benedict as the patron protector of Europe. He is the patron saint of Europe. He asked that his sister’s body was brought to the place where he was to be buried, so that their bodies would remain together, just as their souls had always been. Saint Benedict's Saint Day is July 11. Sixteen years later, Saint Benedict was declared one of the three patron saints of Europe by Pope John Paull II; the other saints who share this patronage are Saint Cyril and Saint Methodus. He rejoiced knowing that she was entering into glory, and gave thanks to God. After blessing the bread, a raven flew in the window, picked up the bread, and flew off with it. There for three years he lived as a hermit. St. Benedict. Other images seen with him are a book (the Rule of St. Benedict), and a crosier or cross, showing his role as abbot of the monastery. Today the bread is symbolized in any action inspired by St. Anthony that aids the needy. NOAA Hurricane Forecast Maps Are Often Misinterpreted — Here's How to Read Them. JPII also wrote a letter to the Abbot of Subiaco in 1999. Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace! Admirable Saint and Doctor of Humility, you practiced what you taught, assiduously praying for God’s glory and lovingly fulfilling all work for God and the benefit of all human beings. Chain, St Elizabeth of Hungary Medal - 14 Karat Gold Filled - Medium, Engravable, St Jude Medal - Sterling Silver - Large, Engravable, St Michael the Archangel Medal - Sterling Silver - Medium, Engravable, Learn more about the images and inscriptions on the St Benedict medal, Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin Rosaries, A Surprising Patron Saint for Artillerymen. May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work for His kingdom. The “Rule of St. Benedict,” often used as the basis of constructing religious orders, is the main achievement of St. Benedict still used by religious men and women. His feast day is July 11. Next the monks tried to poison his bread. Your heart was always full of love, compassion, and mercy toward those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. At this time, St. Benedict left the monastery to return to his cave in Subiaco. St. Benedict is said to be the founder of western monasticism, born at Nursia, c. 480 and died at Monte Cassino, 543. While asking the question slightly differently, for instance, who is the patron saint of the arts, we get another nun a few centuries later, St. Catherine of Bologna: who was a fifteenth-century cloistered nun who lived and died in relative obscurity doesn’t seem the most obvious choice to be Patron Saint of Artists. Their first attempt was to poison his drink. St. Benedict is the patron saint of a wide variety of people and needs, including: against poison, agricultural workers, civil engineers, the dying, those afflicted with fever, those with gall stones, those with inflammatory diseases, those with kidney disease, members of religious orders, monks, schoolchildren, and spelunkers (cave explorers). The most famous monastery founded by St. Benedict is the great Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino, which is located on a hilltop between Rome and Naples. He died at the convent, was canonized in 1807, and is the patron saint of blacks in the United States. Benedict went on to establish a number of monasteries, the most important of which was the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino where he died in 543. Though St. Benedict was born in 480 A.D., he is certainly a Saint for our times. Help all religious to follow their Rule and be true to their vocation. When he asked her what she had done, she replied that he had not listened to her, so she asked God instead. Learn more about the images and inscriptions on the St Benedict medal. He is a patron saint of Europe. In 1980, to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of his birth, St John Paul II was a pilgrim to Norcia & wrote Sanctorum Altrix, an apostolic letter on this Messenger of Peace. Farmers. He left his schooling to retreat away from the city of Rome, where he could spend time in prayer, contemplating what it was that God was asking of him. Story of St. Benedict . St. Benedict is the patron saint of a wide variety of people and needs, including: against poison, agricultural workers, civil engineers, the dying, those afflicted with fever, those with gall stones, those with inflammatory diseases, those with kidney disease, members of religious orders, monks, schoolchildren, and spelunkers (cave explorers). The life was one of heroic virtue, with some monks practicing long fasts and other ascetic practices to the admiration of their followers. He wanted to create a model of monastic life that would make it possible for ordinary men to follow every day. Saint Benedict is the patron saint of school children, Europe, kidney disease and poisoning. He is the Patron Saint of African Missions and, along with St. Martin de Porres, is the Patron Saint of African-Americans. They sought to poison his kidneys in order to make him ill. The subject that dominated a young man’s study then was rhetoric -- the art of persuasive speaking. He lived in a cave for 3 years and during that time, he came across a group of monks who chose him to be their leader. I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I earnestly implore (mention your favor). On his original Feast Day on March 21st (now celebrated on July 11th), the traditional practice of blessings of the beehives took place. Dear St. Benedict, you are a “blessing” indeed, as your name indicates. This proved to be a mistake, though, and the monks tried to poison St. Benedict. Our Patron Saints. At first this did not do well, as the monks resisted Benedict’s efforts to bring greater spiritual discipline to their lives. You know the many physical dangers that surround us today often caused or occasioned by human inventions. In 1947 Pius XII wrote Fulgens Radiatur, an encyclical on St Benedict. Required fields are marked *. One time, while visiting, they spent the day praising God, conversing about spiritual matters, and delving deep into the mysteries of the faith. St. Benedict of Nursia, Italy (A.D. 480-543), the twin brother of St. Scholastica, is the Father of Western Monasticism. St. Benedict, twin brother of Scholastica, was born in Nursia in central Italy. St. Benedict summed up his ideals in the Rule of St Benedict which became one of the foundation documents of Western Christianity. O blessed and compassionate St. Benedict, you were full of the love of God and led countless others to Him, His Word, and His holy Church. Not long after the night of the thunderstorm, when God had allowed for them to enjoy the company of one another, St. Scholastica fell ill. Get a 10% Off coupon today and notice of discounts and other releases as they happen. The Rule of Saint Benedict by Benedict of Nursia. During that time, monasteries kept Bees that provided them with honey and wax (and mead! He built a monastery called Monte Cassino and it was in this monastery that he led the monks and others in a strict lifestyle of prayer and charity work. Two of the more common phrases excerpted from the Rule of St. Benedict are: “Ora et Labora” (pray and work) and “Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ.” These examples show the life of prayer and grace that St. Benedict wished to instill in his own monasteries, as well as the monasteries that would use his Rule in the future. St. Benedict: the patron saint of (recovering) workaholics. He also wanted to create a community with the abbot as the father guiding the monks in the daily practice of work and prayer. ), so St Benedict became associated with Beekeeping. Your email address will not be published. St. Benedict is known as the founder of Western Monastic life. He lived in a cave for 3 years and during that time, he came across a group of monks who chose him to be their leader. It is said he died with high fever on the very day God told him he would. He was born in Nursia, Italy, in 480 A.D. It was near Padua that Anthony died from exhaustion at age 36. Europe Kidney Disease Monks Poisoning Schoolchildren. Amen. He knew that it would be unlikely that they would agree; however, because they kept asking him, he agreed to become their new abbot. To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me. All told there are 36 words inscribed or represented by abbreviation on the medal. St Benedict: Born in Umbria in 480AD, he organized a form of monastic life in twelve small monasteries. July 11—Memorial Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Europe and monks. Saint Benedict the Patron Saint of Kidneys is represented in Christian Art with a broken pitcher, glass, or wine-cup is in allusion to the attempt of the monks to poison him with a cup of wine Feast Day of Patron Saint of Kidneys The Feast Day of Saint Benedict the Patron Saint of Kidneys is March 21st. St. Benedict was of a more practical mind. Saint Benedict began his adult life as a hermit, trying to escape the horrors of war. Find Saint Benedict Rosary Beads here. Outside, a thunderstorm began to rage, with lightning scattering across the sky and rain pouring so hard that St. Benedict could not possibly leave. Attracted to a life of prayer, meditation, and simplicity, St. Benedict was given the monk’s habit by Romanus, and lived nearby as a hermit for three years, unbeknownst to anyone but Romanus, who provided him with food. His sister, St. Scholastica, is celebrated on February 10. St. Benedict was canonized in 1220 in Rome by Pope Honorius III. The Saint Benedict Medal is a Christian sacramental medal containing symbols and text related to the life of Saint Benedict of Nursia, used by Roman Catholics, as well as Anglicans, Lutherans, and the Western Orthodox, in the Benedictine Christian tradition, especially votarists and oblates. Let Saint Benedict be your partner in prayer as you say one of the prayers below or as part of your rosary devotion. Who or what is Saint Benedict the patron saint of? St. Benedict of Nursia was born in the year 480 in Nursia (now known as Norcia), in Umbria, Italy. St. Benedict is believed to have been born around 480, as the son to a Roman noble of Norcia and the twin to his sister, Scholastica. They would meet one time per year to visit with each other, for just a day. St. Benedict is often pictured with a bell, a broken tray, a raven, or a crosier. His twin sister, St. Scholastica, gave herself to God too, and founded a monastery about five miles from St. Benedict’s monastery in Monte Cassino. Saint Benedict, Abbot c. 480–c. There is a patron for virtually every cause, profession or special interest. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy.