Question

How did Benedict established the basic form of monastic life in the western Christian church

Answer 1

Saint Benedict of Nursia was from Italy. He was a monk. He is considered and known as the father of western monasticism.

He formulated a rule called regula Benedicti. This regulations established the conditions in which a monk should live:

• The community should be led by an abbot. A prior being the second in command.
• The main concepts to respect were humility , obedience,poverty and chastity.
• Monk´s daily life should denote prayer,work and study.
• Life in community was obligatory.
• Solitude and silence were necessary aspects in a monk´s life.

Answer 2

Saint Benedict of Nursia founded the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino, he is also the father of Western monacticism. He sought to create a sacred school and community and a safe place free from distraction, negativity and vices so, he turned the monastery into a place of work, prayer and space to provide spiritual life and guidance. Inside the monastery people learnt how to live and worship according to his rule. If a person wanted to live as a cenobite monk, he had to renounce to his possessions and distractions and follow God.

He also wrote The rule of Saint Benedict which is a book consisting of precepts for monks living under the authority of an abbot. Benedictines have been using The Rule of Saint Benedict for 15 centuries. As a result Benedict is regarded as the founder of Western monasticism as his rules gave way to reforms on the current Catholic hierarch.