Saint Benedict of Nursia

On July 11 we will celebrate the Feast Day of St. Benedict. In the midst of chaos within the old Roman government over 1500 years ago St. Benedict organized a community for men, which has become known as the Benedictine Community. And his sister St. Scholastica organized one for women. During this time there was an army in upheaval with the soldiers breaking rank. The police stopped working to protect the people so the bandits were preying on the people who had no protection against them. Roads became impassable due to no repairs and food quickly ran out at the markets because the goods could not be brought in over those roads.

When St. Benedict and then St. Scholastica organized their respective communities they used a set of rules St. Benedict put together titled, “Rule for Life.” This is still today a very sensible set of guidelines that help people work together effectively and to get along with each other. “The Rule” says that to live in community there cannot be any grudges held against one another, pride must be put aside, greed cannot be a way of life and laziness is not acceptable. Rather, everyone in the community needs to work hard not just for themselves but for everyone. And the way to bring order out of chaos is to practice generosity, charity and forgiveness with each other. “The Rule” also says that all guests should be received as if they were Jesus and so anyone visiting is greeted with joy and treated with great hospitality.

Since the world in which these communities was in a chaotic state the communities thrived on the order and kindness that “The Rule for Life” asked of the members. And since they thrived more communities were begun. Today there are Benedictine communities all around the world.

The daily life of the communities then and now are organized according to the Latin motto, ora et labora, “prayer and work.” We as families can adopt this motto for our own as well as treat each other as if it is Jesus we are with.