Benedict was born in Nursia in Italy and lived from about 480 to 550 AD. After studying in Rome, he tried to live before God in solitude as a hermit in a cave at Subiaco, but was soon joined by others eager to learn from him. Eventually he organised these followers into small communities, bound together by a common rule of life.
The Rule of St Benedict is essentially a simple and practical guide for daily living: a balance between physical work, intellectual study and corporate prayer.
Benedict is regarded as the founder of Western monasticism and he is the patron saint of Europe. With his simple rule of work, study and prayer, we think he's a good saint for a university chaplaincy too. We celebrate St Benet's Day each year on 11 July, with a simple service of thanksgiving at the end of the academic year.
A prayer of St Benedict
O gracious and Holy Father, give us wisdom to perceive you,intelligence to seek you, patience to wait for you, vision to behold you, a heart to meditate upon you, and a life to proclaim you, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.