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Dear Sister and Brother in
the Lord:
Saint Benedict was born around the year 480 in the district of Nursia
(present-day Norcia), in Umbria, central Italy. He is regarded as the
"Father of Western Monasticism" and is "Co-patron of Europe" along with
Saints Cyril and Methodius. As a young man Benedict was sent to
Rome for studies but left after a short stay, desiring to dedicate his
life to God. He went to live in an isolated place near Subiaco,
not far from the ruins of Emperor Nero's summer villa, about fifty miles
from Rome. Today the cave is the celebrated shrine called "Sacro Speco"
(The Holy Cave) and is one of Europe's most beautiful sanctuaries.
At Subiaco, Benedict lived a life of solitude and prayer for about three
years with the support from a monk named Romanus. Benedict's time as a
hermit was interrupted for a short period when he became the superior of
a group of unruly monks. Ultimately unhappy with his guidance, they
tried to poison him. He then withdrew to the cave at Subiaco
once again. Eventually, Benedict's sanctity attracted disciples
and in time, twelve small monasteries were established around Subiaco,
with Benedict as the spiritual father of them all. Around the year 530
Benedict left Subiaco with some of his disciples for Monte Cassino,
halfway between Rome and Naples, where he began a single, close-knit
community on a mountain top. There he remained until his death around
the year 547. It was at Monte Cassino that Benedict completed his "Rule
for Monks," basing it on earlier monastic literature as well as his own
original material. Today, the "Rule of Saint Benedict," as it is
commonly called, is considered one of the most important factors in the
development of Christian Europe. In time, the Rule became the norm for
all monks and nuns in the West. During his lifetime, the monastery at
Monte Cassino grew and a foundation was made south of Rome, at Terracina.
The monasteries at Subiaco continued as well.
Benedict had a sister, Scholastica, who was consecrated to God from her
youth and died shortly before her saintly brother. Both of them were
buried at Monte Cassino in the oratory dedicated to Saint John the
Baptist. Saint Scholastica's feast day is on February 10th and Saint
Benedict's is on March 21st and July 11th. The March date is generally
considered to be the date on which he died.
The life of Saint Benedict is found in "The Dialogues" written by Pope
Saint Gregory the Great some forty years after Benedict's death. It is
not a biography as we know the genre today, but the details supply us
with a basic outline of the life and times of Saint Benedict. Among the
titles given to Saint Benedict over the centuries are the following:
"Messenger of Peace, Architect of Unity, Teacher of Culture and
Civilization, Father of Western Monasticism, Herald of the Christian
Faith, and Father of the Whole of Europe."
Today, Benedict's disciples, both men and women, can be found on every
continent of the world, leading lives dedicated to "Prayer and Work," as
the holy father Benedict taught in his rule and by his life. St.
Benedict’s feast day is this Wednesday, July 11th. Our Holy Father chose
the name Benedict upon his election as Bishop of Rome to emphasize what
he sees as a need for Europe to return to fundamental Christian values
in response to increasing de-Christianization and secularization in many
developed countries (a trend that had been going on for several decades
before Benedict's papacy). For this reason, he has identified
relativism's denial of objective truth—and more particularly, the denial
of moral truths—as the central problem of the 21st century. He has
taught about the importance for the Catholic Church and for humanity of
contemplating God's salvific love (see his encyclical, Deus Caritas Est
for additional reflection) and has reaffirmed the "importance of prayer
in the face of the activism and the growing secularism of many
Christians engaged in charitable work." Let us continue to pray for
Benedict XVI and for his ministry among us as supreme shepherd and
pastor of the Church.
Et Cetera….
I would like to thank the Athletic Board and all who participated in the
Second Annual Irish Open. Our school is an important part of our common
life together in this parish and I thank each and every one for your
continued support.
I would ask one and all to
mark your calendars. I will be installed as your pastor by Bishop Perry,
our Episcopal vicar for Vicariate VI, on Sunday, September 30 at the
10am Mass. I greatly and gratefully appreciate your warm welcome
and hospitality. Please pray for me and know that you all and your
families are remembered in my prayers as well.
Let’s give our minds and hearts to the Lord!
Father Joe
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