I didn’t grow up with official “saints,” but if I had, St. Benedict of Nursia (in Italy) would be one on my list. For those Christian denominations that do have saints, July 11th is the day to commemorate him. He lived about 480 to 550 C.E., when much of Roman society was breaking down. He moved to a hillside cave, where a community gradually gathered around him, and later moved to Monte Casino, where his followers eventually became a Historical Order of the Catholic Church.

Benedict’s guide for daily living is called The Rule of St. Benedict. It emphasized obedience to God, silence, and humility. Private ownership was given over to and distributed by the monastic community. Their daily life included about 5 hours of spiritual reading, 4 hours of prayer, and 6 hours of work, often in the surrounding countryside. By the seventh and eighth centuries, it had become the principal rule in Italy and all the Anglo-Saxon countries of Europe.

By 685, Anglo-Saxon kingdoms had accepted the Benedictine view of Christian faith, and schools among converts were flourishing. At that time, their emphasis was on mission, and St. Boniface was a key evangelist of the period. Their beliefs spread to the Lombards, and northern Europeans joined in over the next 200 years. Invasions and settlements by various groups brought the Benedictine movement up and down.

The Rule of Benedict continues to this day among Benedictines, but also through internet-connected Christians who live in different geographic locations. The model of working in the world as well as centering in worship and prayer continues to be a guiding Rule among many followers of Jesus.

Thanks to The Southern Cross for this picture.