30 curious facts about Saint Benedict, his medal and his monks
- 1. We owe the little we know about Saint Benedict to Saint Gregory the Great who compiled some miracles and data about his life in “The Dialogues”. Book 2 was dedicated entirely to him.
- Although his images represent him as an elderly man, the truth is that Abbot Benito died before the age of 70 and carried out most of his mission when he was young.
- Saint Benedict began to be a leader of monks from an early age, he was not even 20 years old when he already had disciples who sought to be monks and dedicate themselves to prayer, work and silence.
- It is very likely that Saint Benedict was not a priest, perhaps he only received some of the minor clerical orders so that he could lead his monks as Abbot.
- He began his monastic life in the Subiaco cave, near Rome, and later founded the monastery of Montecasino, mother house of the Benedictines that has been destroyed on several occasions, the last during World War II.
- The favorite disciples of Saint Benedict were Saint Maurus and Saint Placidus.
- He wrote a “Rule” or norm of life for monks, very balanced and moderate, which he himself presents as just the beginning of perfection in the following of Christ.
- He had a twin sister, Saint Scholastica, who also consecrated herself to God.
- Saint Benedict died in Monte Cassino on March 21, 547.
- It is venerated by Orthodox churches and some Protestant denominations.
- His relics are claimed to have the Abbey of Montecasino in Italy and the Abbey of Fleury in France.
- July 11 is an ancient holiday in his honor, of French origin, and was preferred to March 21, which coincides with Lent.
- Saint Benedict is the patron saint of Europe.
- The medal of Saint Benedict is properly called the “Medal of the Holy Cross”.
- The main side of the medal is where the cross is engraved, in fact when it is blessed it is recommended that the medals have the cross facing up.
- This medal is one of the few sacramentals that incorporate an exorcism in its blessing.
- To receive all the blessings and indulgences it must be metallic, have on the front the cross with the letters approved by Pope Benedict XIV and on the back the image of Saint Benedict.
- The most popular design is known as the “jubilee medal” made by the monks of the Beuron Abbey for Montecasino.
- The crucifix with the medal is called “Christ of the good death.”
- Saint Benedict did not found any religious order, he only wrote the Rule that is currently followed by about 30,000 Benedictine nuns and monks.
- Benedictine monks are grouped into 20 congregations or federations. Each Abbey and Monastery is autonomous but they are united by their own constitutions. An Abbot primate in Rome functions as a link of unity but is not the superior or master general.
- The Cistercians – Trappists, Olivetans, Camaldolenses, Sylvestrines and the monks of Vallumbrosa are Benedictines.
- The government of the abbeys falls on an Abbot and in the monasteries on a prior. An abbey must have a considerable number of monks and be self-sufficient.
- There are more than 55,000 Benedictine saints, both of immemorial worship and beatified or canonized. Of them, six were proclaimed doctors of the Church: Saint Gregory the Great, Saint Bede the Venerable, Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Saint Peter Damian, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Saint Hildegard of Bingen.
- More than 20 Popes have been monks, the first was Saint Gregory the Great and the last was Gregory XVI.
- Oblates, whether they live in the world or in a monastery, whether priests or laymen, are members of the Benedictine family, making promises rather than vows.
- The monks and nuns cast three vows: Obedience, Conversion of Customs and Stability in the monastery.
- Abbots, even if they are not bishops, can use a crosier, ring and miter, and can also celebrate pontificals. They can grant minor clerical orders and ministries.
- The motto of the monks is “PAX” (Peace) and the motto “Ut in ómnibus glorificetur Deus” (May God be glorified in everything) is abbreviated with the initials UIOGD.
- The phrase “Ora et labora” (pray and work) is the summary of the charisma of Saint Benedict as described in his Rule, since the life of the monks is consumed around divine praise with the liturgical prayer of the psalms and work. manual and intellectual to survive.