Benedict was born around 480 in Nursia (Norcia) in Umbria.
Translated from Latin, his name means “the blessed one”.

After prematurely completing his studies in Rome, the young Benedict lived for some time in an ascetic community, then for three years as a hermit in a cave near Subiaco.
He later gathered monks around him, who lived under his leadership in twelve small monasteries.

Around 529, he moved to Montecassino with his monks. Here he completed his monastic rule, which became the basis not only for the Benedictine family worldwide today, but for the whole of Western monasticism. The Benedictine Rule (Regula Benedicti) is often summarized with the words “ora et labora”. As the third pillar of Benedictine life, however, the “lege” should not be missing! In addition to prayer and work, spiritual reading is an important structural element of the monastic day.

Today, Benedict's vastness and wisdom are being rediscovered in the area of human resources management.

Benedict wants to guide people to a moderate life “under the guidance of the Gospel”.

The father of the order died on March 21, 547 at Montecassino, where he was also buried. Pope Gregory the Great describes his life in the 2nd book of his Dialogues.

After the Lombards destroyed Montecassino in 580, Benedict's body was transferred to Fleury. Despite the destruction of the shrines by the Huguenots and during the French Revolution, his relics were preserved. After the destruction of Montecassino in the Second World War, Benedict's tomb was found during the clearing and reconstruction work.

On October 24, 1964, Pope Paul VI elevated St. Benedict to the patron saint of Europe.
He is depicted with a shepherd's crook and rule book, poisoned cup, raven and more.

We celebrate the Feast of St. Benedict on March 21.