c. 480–547 · 6th c. · 1 work
Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547) is the father of Western monasticism, founder of the great monastery of Monte Cassino and author of the Rule that bears his name. Born at Nursia in central Italy and sent to study at Rome, he withdrew from the corruption of the city to live as a hermit at Subiaco before gathering disciples into communities of common life.
His Rule, a guide of moderation balancing prayer, sacred reading, and manual labour under an abbot, shaped the monastic life of the Latin West for centuries and remains widely read. His life is recorded by St. Gregory the Great in the second book of the Dialogues.
He is venerated as a saint in both East and West; the Orthodox Church commemorates him on 14 March.