The name Benedict

Historically we know very little about St. Benedict. It is assumed he lived between 480 and 549. After several years living as a hermit, he founded a small community at Subiaco. When a priest of the area showed himself invidious of the many youths who flocked to Benedict’s community, Benedict decided to move south to Monte Cassino, where he founded a monastery on top of the mountain. He wrote a Rule for his community, a Rule characterised by wisdom and love for the person. Pope Paul VI nominated St. Benedict Patron of Europe. Outwardly, Benedict did not change the world. But the community he founded in the midst of a turbulent period of migrations of peoples became a factor of stabilization in sixth-century Europe. And the numerous communities that – especially under Charlemagne – adopted the Rule of Benedict as point of reference, characterised the life and society of the West. It fostered above all the culture of living together in a peaceful community. Benedict asked his monks to see Christ in every brother and sister. This led to a new approach to the person in Europe: it led to the recognition of the dignity of each person and respect for the mystery that each human being bears within himself/herself. The supervisory principles that Benedict assigned to the abbot and to the cellarer as administrative director of the monastery also form part of this reciprocal approach. The sons of princes in the Middle Ages were brought up according to these precepts. And even today, a new interest in directing people according to the guidelines of St. Benedict can be detected in the business world. Many managers and entrepreneurs have discovered that a mere pursuit of profit does not unlock the door to the future: that is possible only with respect for the person and the ability to awaken life in each. Another principle that has had positive consequences for Europe is the Benedictine rule of “ora et labora” (work and pray). It developed a culture of work not only in the agricultural field, but especially in the field of the arts and crafts. The chapter in Benedict’s Rule on craftsmen, the “artifices”, the artists who are able to form useful objects from the things of this world, forged the medieval guilds. Benedict, indeed, forged the world and society of the Middle Ages. The school of the Lord, founded by Benedict for his own monks, soon became the school for many young men and the centre of education for Europe. Here the wisdom of the ancients was transmitted. For the Benedictines did not study only Holy Scripture, but also the Greek and Latin philosophers and poets. They wanted the monks to master the art of language to be able to give praise to God also in a cultivated language. In this way, the monasteries became centres of education and learning; they became the centres for the creation of some of the highest expressions of art and culture. Pope Gregory the Great especially praised Benedict’s gift of wisdom and moderation. In our time, when man shows no moderation not only in the way he uses the Creation, but in the claims he makes for himself and for society, the virtue of moderation would be a remedy for the person and for our ability to live together. The humble but at the same time optimistic spirituality of Benedict, expressed in his attitude to others and in contributing to shape this world, would also be a remedy for our time. Benedict’s spirituality is an earthy spirituality that forges this earth: it forges together the way we live and the way we work. If today we were to give form to Europe by drawing on the source of Benedictine spirituality, we would be certain that peaceful co-existence in Europe and the way in which Europe acts in the world would be the leaven for the whole world. And then the meaning of the name Benedict would become a reality: that Europe may become a blessing for this world.