It is with great joy and gratitude that we celebrate our patron saint today, Saint Benedict, the Father of Western Monasticism!
In the sixth century, Saint Benedict wrote a rule “written for beginners” by which to order his monastery and cultivate virtue and holiness in his monks, so that they may one day enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet the influence of The Rule of Saint Benedict and Benedictine monasteries have had a transformative effect on civilization.
Over the course of our 1,500-year-old tradition, Benedictines have brought order to a chaotic world through exemplifying obedience, stability, and conversatio morum (a life of conversion) out of love for Christ. The Benedictine form of monasticism has taught the world how to live a life of love and charity so that “in all things God may be glorified.” No less in our corner of the world.
In his introduction to the TAN edition of The Rule of Saint Benedict, our own Abbot Placid Solari reminds us,
“This rule was brought to North Carolina on April 21, 1876, as monks from Saint Vincent Abbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, arrived to receive donated land which would become Belmont Abbey. It continues to inform the life and labors of the monks at Belmont Abbey, and provides the foundation for the education offered by Belmont Abbey College.”
Abbot Placid also explains that Saint Benedict “took the monastic tradition he had himself received, and distilled it into a way of life accessible to ordinary people.” This supports Abbot Bernard Bonowitz’s assertion quoted in our Saint Joseph’s Day post. Recall, Bonowitz tells us, “[T]he monastic way of being is very close to that of the common Christian, and its practices are easily incorporated into the daily life of all those who seek God.” Our Benedictine hallmarks speak to this idea:
Love: Love of Christ and Neighbor
Prayer: Life of liturgy, lectio, and mindfulness
Stability: Commitment to the daily life of this place, its heritage and traditions
Conversatio: The way of formation and transformation
Obedience: A commitment to listening and consequent action
Discipline: A way toward learning and freedom
Humility: knowledge of self in relation to God, others, and Creation
Stewardship: Responsible use of Creation, Culture, and the Arts
Hospitality: Welcoming each other as Christ Himself
Community: Call to serve the Common Good.
To strive to abide by these is to share in the vision described in St. Gregory the Great’s Life of Saint Benedict. Saint Gregory tells us that on the day Saint Benedict died, two of his brothers saw the same vision. He writes, “They both saw a road spread with cloaks and shining with innumerable lights, stretching eastwards from Benedict’s monastery to Heaven.”
So on his feast day, let us pray to Saint Benedict to intercede for our many needs and with gratitude for illuminating the road of our life, praying that it may stretch to Heaven.
O Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace! We implore you in your loving kindness to pray for us before the throne of God. To you we have recourse in the dangers that daily surround us. Shield us against selfishness and indifference to God and neighbor. Inspire us to imitate you in all things. May your blessing be with us always, so that we may see and serve Christ in others and work for His kingdom. We pray also for the protection and care of our Monastery and College. Through your loving intercessions, may we live our lives so that in all things God may be glorified.
NB: While the primary celebration of Saint Benedict in most dioceses is July 11th, the American-Cassinese Congregation petitioned the Sacred Congregation of Rites to celebrate their patronal feast during March to enable students at its educational institutes to be present.
