Benedict, Saint, Abbot of Monte Cassino

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St. Benedict and his twin sister St. Scholastica were born in Nursia (modern day Norcia), Italy, in the 5th century AD. The precise date of their birth isn't known but a commonly agreed upon year is 480 AD. St. Benedict and his sister were born into a Christian noble family: father Euprobo and mother Claudia Abundantia. St. Benedict went to Rome for his studies according to his father's wishes, and as was common during the time for children of noble or privileged families. Once he had reached his higher studies, St. Benedict grew weary of life in Rome. He found his companions' lives dissolute and immoral and he himself had been struck by love for a woman. He found his teachers unchristian and corrupt. All of these things led St. Benedict to abandon his studies in Rome to pursue a spiritual life. He left Rome, probably between 500 and 510 AD, with his faithful family nurse Cirilla accompanying him as far as Enfide. After leaving Rome and Enfide, St. Benedict spent time living as a hermit, in spiritual isolation, living in a cave. Upon the death of the abbot of a nearby monastery, St. Benedict who was known by now for his sanctity was asked to become their new abbot. The unworthy monks attempted to poison him and St. Benedict miraculously escaped harm and returned to his cave. The period that followed was full of growth. St. Benedict built 12 monasteries in Subiaco and resided in the 13th as abbot. But his sacred path didn't end here, and along with his most devoted disciples St. Benedict left Subiaco for Cassino, arriving around the year 529 AD. It was there on the ancient summit where St. Benedict and his most faithful monks built the first abbey of Montecassino, among the ruins of an ancient pagan acropolis. Here he wrote the supremely influential and important Rule and served as the young monastery's first abbot until his death in the mid 6th century.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604. Life of St. Benedict : manuscript, [11--]. Houghton Library
creatorOf Catholic Church. [Martyrology and rule of St. Benedict]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Cañizares, José de 1676-1750. El sol de Occidente, San Benito [Manuscrito] . Emp.: Ya soberano señor (h. 3)... Fin.: el gran sol del occidente (h. 73) de D. Joseph Cañiçares, de Carlos Ballejo. Biblioteca Nacional de España, Biblioteca Nacional - Madrid
creatorOf Usuard, d. 876 or 7. [Martyrology and rule of St. Benedict]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Byrne, James, 1857-1942,. De imitatione Christi : Liber I : manuscript, [ca. 1490]. Houghton Library
referencedIn Mount Angel Abbey Archives. Benedictine order, St. Benedict pictures. Mount Angel Abbey Library, Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary Library
referencedIn Saint-Quentin (Aisne, France). Bibliothèque municipale. Le livre de la tresorye de l'abbaye d'Origny Saincte Benoite [microform] : contenant les dignitez et sainctuaires estans en icelle ... Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Antiphonal, ca. 1575. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Cockayne, Thomas Oswald, 1807-1873. Extracts from and notes on Old English literature : manuscript, [18--] Houghton Library
referencedIn Sava, Īeromonakh, fl. 1542. Miscellany [microform], [1542]. Ohio State University Libraries
creatorOf Hasbrouck, John Baptist. De Vogüé's Doctrinal and spiritual commentary on RB : a synopsis / John Baptist Hasbrouck. Saint Anselm College, Saint Anselm College Geisel Library
creatorOf Benedict, Saint, Abbot of Monte Cassino. Regula monasteriorum : manuscript, [ca. 1575]. Houghton Library
creatorOf Isidore, of Seville, Saint, d. 636. [Selections] [microform]. University of Rochester
referencedIn Herwegen, Ildefons, 1874-1946. Sayings of the fathers and monastic rule / by Abbot Ildefons Herwegen, O.S.B. ; translated by Benedict Neenan, O.S.B. Conception Abbey & Seminary Library
referencedIn Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604. [Dialogus de vita et moribus patrum italicorum et de aeternitate animarum] [microform]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo. Sermones in festivitatibus sanctorum et de reparacione lapsus : manuscript, [between 1150 and 1175]. Houghton Library
creatorOf Usuard, d. 876 or 7. [Martyrology and miscellaneous texts]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
founderOf Benedictines corporateBody
associatedWith Bosch de Vilasar family. family
associatedWith Cañizares, José de 1676-1750. person
associatedWith Catholic Church. corporateBody
associatedWith Cockayne, Thomas Oswald, 1807-1873. person
associatedWith Gregory I, Pope, ca. 540-604. person
associatedWith Hasbrouck, John Baptist. person
associatedWith Herwegen, Ildefons, 1874-1946. person
associatedWith Isidore, of Seville, Saint, d. 636. person
associatedWith Usuard, d. 876 or 7. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Monasticism and religious orders
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 0480

Death 0547

Italians

Latin

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