Saint Benedict

Some monks chose Benedict as their leader for a while, but many thought he was too strict. As Benedict moved away from the life of a hermit, he had an idea of gathering various families of monks into one “Grand Monastery,” where they would have the benefit of unity, fraternity, and permanent worship in one house. This idea grew into a reality with Monte Cassino, which commanded three narrow valleys that ran toward the mountains north of Naples.

The Rule that gradually developed prescribed a life of liturgical prayer, study, manual labor, and living together in community under a common abbot. Benedictine asceticism is known for its moderation, and Benedictine charity also is well recognized. During the Middle Ages, all monasticism in the West gradually followed the Rule of St. Benedict.

Today the Benedictine family consists of two branches: the Benedictine Federation, which includes the men and women of the Order of St. Benedict, and the Cistercians, men and women of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.