Who Is St. Benedict Of Nursia Shaped Western Monasticism

Benedict of Nursia (480-547) expanded the legacy when he founded a monastery dedicated to Martin of Tours. (St. Benedict, Chapter 8) This included three important features that shaped western monasticism for centuries. Benedict’s Rule required a combination of prayer, study, and manual labor from the monks; every hour of the day was spent doing each and every one of these activities. You also had to pursue spiritual qualities while also engaging in service for others through education, caring for the sick and poor relief. Finally, every Benedictine religion was governed by an abbot, who was chosen by the monks. The monks were expected to obey the abbot’s orders and accept his decisions. The rule of St. Benedict became the basis for the
1185-1265) was an Italian friar of the Franciscans. He was also a poet and the author of three hagiographies about Saint Francis of Assisi. He talks very highly of St. Francis. Thomas uses Francis’s own writings as a source for his biography. His first work, Vita Beati Francisci 1229 (“The Life of Blessed Francis, often called the “First Life”). This was about the saint’s early life. Thomas of Celano was around Francis’s age when he joined the Franciscan order around 1215. He was asked by Pope Gregory IX in 1228 to write a biography of Francis. Although Thomas of Celano was not among the earliest disciplines of Francis, he eventually got to know Francis personally. Another work he wrote was Memoriale Desiderio Animae de Gestis et Verbis Sanctissimi Patris Nostri Francisci 1246, which meant (“The memorial of the Desire of a soul concerning the Deeds and Words of our most holy Father Francis, often called the “Second Life”). This was about the different perspectives on Francis after his death. Lastly, the third one was a treatise on the saint’s miracles done in
Monasticism, which contributed to the spread of Roman Christianity, first appeared in Latin West in the late fourth century. The western Christian Church influenced politics and society in the Germanic kingdoms due to the growth of papal authority, the spread of monasticism, and the conversion of both elites and commoners from Arian to roman Christianity (St. Benedict, Chapter 8). A king’s conversion often paved the way for his subjects to follow. Although priests in rural villages might come from humble social backgrounds, bishops and archbishops typically came from the ranks of elite families; they tended to serve as kings’ advisors and had considerable political influences in their dioceses. Women sometimes played a role in this process. For example, Frankish King Clovis (ruled 481-511) was persuaded by his wife Clotilde to adopt Roman Christianity, which was her religion. Converting made the kings successful so Clotilde was celebrated for piety and later declared a saint. Woman of any social rank were expected to marry, but monasticism offered women the opportunity to pursue a spiritual vocation as well as education by joining religious order (Chapter 8, Creating the Latin