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One of the best ways to understand the spirituality of St. Benedict is by relating the following story:

A poor man once came to St. Benedict’s monastery, begging for a small amount of oil. Saint Benedict ordered the cellarer to retrieve oil for the beggar, but the cellarer refused, noting that the monastery only had a tiny bit of oil left for its own use. Saint Benedict was angered by this distrust in God’s providence. He immediately fell to his knees and prayed. Soon, a bubbling sound came from the oil jar. Oil from God filled the jar so abundantly that the oil overflowed and lifted the jar’s lid.

This is precisely how St. Benedict taught his followers to pray. Their hearts were to be emptied of all thought, until the only thing remaining was a devout trust in God’s providence. When their hearts were truly emptied in this manner, God’s abundance “bubbled up,” filling their hearts with inspiration and love.

Saint Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy, in the year 480. As a young man he was sent to Rome to finish his education, but soon found himself repulsed by his fellow classmates’ desire to use their education and wealth for pleasure. He fled the city, and found himself living as a hermit in the small, mountainous town of Subiaco.

He stayed there for several years, under the direction of another hermit named Romanus. Eventually rumors of his holy ways spread throughout the area. A group of monks asked him to be their leader, but Benedict resisted this proposal, warning them that he would be too strict for their liking. Still, they insisted…but later tried to poison his wine when they found it too difficult to abide by his rules.

The next group of monks to request the leadership of St. Benedict were more open to his strict teachings. The saint built 12 monasteries, each housing 12 monks, and made manual work part of their program. After this, Subiaco became a center of spirituality and learning. Saint Benedict, however, left the group suddenly when another hermit began to undermine his work.

Finally he settled in the town of Monte Cassino in the year 525. It was here that he founded the monastery that was to be the birthplace of Western Monasticism. Instead of his previous plan of building separate buildings for the monks, he built just one building, allowing everyone to live under one roof. This was considered a bold move for the time.

After fifteen centuries his guidelines and instructions are still being used. They were collected in what is now known as the Rule of Saint Benedict. The Rule advised a life of common sense, prayer, study, and work, and also stressed living in obedience, stability and zeal.

The Divine Office – prayers offered every day, and throughout each day by the monks - was the center of monastic life. It was chanted at certain times of day, and St. Benedict instructed the monks to drop everything, no matter where they were or what they were doing, to pray. Nothing, he explained, was to be put before the work of God.

Saint Benedict passed away in Monte Cassino on March 21, 547, while he was in prayer before God.