Sister Mary Clair, MICM
Saint Benedict Monte Cassino
Benedict arrived at Monte Cassino in 529, at the age of 49. He fell in love with the impressive ruins of a Roman fortress owned by Placid’s father. Tertullus gave it to Benedict in the hopes that the monks would establish Christianity among the locals, who were still immersed in the darkness of idolatry.
On their arrival, Benedict went into solitude for forty days of prayer and fasting. He emerged from his retreat with the strong conviction that this was where God intended him to stay and build. It was his new battleground, where he went to work with the zeal of an Old Testament prophet; it was a fresh campaign against the powers of hell.
Saint Gregory relates the story: “Now the citadel called Casinum is located on the side of a high mountain. The mountain shelters this citadel on a broad bench. Then it rises three miles above it as if its peak tended toward heaven. There was an ancient temple there in which Apollo used to be worshipped according to the old pagan rite by the foolish local farmers. Around it had grown up a grove dedicated to demon worship, where, even at that time a wild crowd still devoted themselves to unholy sacrifices. When Benedict, the man of God arrived, he smashed the idol, overturned the altar, and cut down the grove of trees. He built a chapel dedicated to Saint Martin in the temple of Apollo and another to Saint John where the altar of Apollo had stood. He summoned the people of the district to the faith by his unceasing preaching.” Satan was furious, and was vicious against the saint, appearing many times in a hideous form, with fire coming from his mouth and eyes, and appearing as if he would tear Benedict to pieces.
The other monks could not see the devil, but they heard him crying to his rival with diabolic fury, “Benedict! Benedict!” The abbot disdained to answer; the devil would then cry, “Maledict! (Cursed) Maledict! Not Benedict! (Blessed). What hast thou to do with me? Why dost thou persecute me?”
The other monks could not see the devil, but they heard him crying to his rival with diabolic fury, “Benedict! Benedict!” The abbot disdained to answer; the devil would then cry, “Maledict! (Cursed) Maledict! Not Benedict! (Blessed). What hast thou to do with me? Why dost thou persecute me?”
The ancient enemy was furious; he had lost his stronghold at the once pagan worship site of Monte Cassino. Where the idols had been thrown down, there now arose before the throne of God the unceasing praise of countless monks who joined Benedict in the pursuit of holiness.
It was not long before the monastery was filled with three hundred monks, following the Holy Rule, and making their prayer, their work, and their work, a prayer. Over the years, as war and famine devastated Italy, Monte Cassino was “an island of peace in a troubled sea.” The monks set the example of prayer and work, and as their numbers grew, so did their influence on the countless stream of visitors. Beggars were fed and sheltered, and young men were educated and taught useful trades by the monks. Needy families were cared for until they could carry on by themselves. Within the walls of the silent cloister, monks were at work copying hundreds of manuscripts so that “the lamp of learning would not be extinguished in the darkness of war.”
Benedict saw the nobility of man cooperating with God to cultivate and build up the world He had created. He encouraged his monks in every form of craftsmanship; they were masons, ironworkers, farmers, carpenters, musicians, scientists, and scholars. Everything the monks made was for God – an expression of their love for Him. This love was reflected in the brightly illuminated scrolls, the carefully copied histories, the radiant stained glass, the impressive stonework, the elaborate sculptures, solid ironwork, and beautiful chants; everything was a gift from a nobleman to the Divine Creator. Monte Cassino planted a seed that would bear fruit in the flowering of Christendom.
Benedict’s influence was far-reaching; it was not just peasants and beggars who traveled up the gently winding road to the heights of the monastery. Bishops, priests, and important laymen also came to Benedict, seeking advice and instruction from the man of God.
Saint Gregory’s Dialogues relate many stories of miracles worked by Saint Benedict, such as the miraculous increase of food; and money appearing just when it was most needed. Benedict read hearts, prophecied, cast out devils, and even raised the dead back to life.