My Catholic Family - 2015-11-08 - Saint Benedict

Summary

This script narrates a family's spiritual retreat at a Benedictine monastery, focusing on the children's experiences. It explores St. Benedict's life, his pursuit of closeness to God, and the miracles attributed to him. The children, Alex and Sara, learn about prayer, silence, fasting, and the Benedictine motto 'ora et labora'. They also discover the importance of listening to God's voice within, turning work into prayer, and the significance of St. Benedict's teachings in their daily lives.

Takeaways

• 🙏 A spiritual retreat is focused on prayer and connecting with God.
• 📖 God communicates with us through Holy Scripture, the Most Holy Sacrament, and our conscience.
• 🕊️ St. Benedict sought a close relationship with God, which led him to establish a monastic life.
• 🏺 A miracle occurred when St. Benedict prayed over broken pottery, demonstrating his spiritual power.
• 🏞️ St. Benedict retreated to a cave in Subiaco for solitude and intense prayer.
• 🤔 St. Benedict's fame grew as people sought his guidance and miracles.
• 📚 St. Benedict valued education and the preservation of knowledge, as seen in the monastery library.
• 🔄 'Ora et Labora' is St. Benedict's motto, emphasizing the balance of prayer and work.
• 🥖 The Benedictine community bakes their own bread, showing the integration of work and prayer.
• 🤕 Alex's injury during a misadventure led to a deeper understanding of St. Benedict's teachings.
• 🏰 St. Benedict's influence extended beyond his lifetime, shaping the lives of monks and nuns.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is the exploration of St. Benedict's life, the monastic life, and the Benedictine spirituality, particularly focusing on the principles of 'ora et labora' or 'pray and work'.

What is the significance of the Benedictine Monastery in the script?

The Benedictine Monastery is significant as it is the setting where the children learn about St. Benedict's life and teachings, and it represents the spiritual retreat where they are meant to focus on prayer and spiritual growth.

What does 'ora et labora' mean and why is it important in the context of the script?

'Ora et labora' is a Latin phrase meaning 'pray and work'. It is important in the script as it represents St. Benedict's spiritual message, emphasizing the balance between prayer and work, and turning daily tasks into prayerful offerings to God.

Why did St. Benedict leave his studies in Rome and move to Efinde?

St. Benedict left his studies in Rome and moved to Efinde to seek a closer relationship with God, to hear His voice, and to do His will, which he believed was the path to true happiness.

What miracle is associated with St. Benedict and the broken pot?

The miracle associated with St. Benedict and the broken pot is that after he prayed and blessed the pieces, they fitted themselves together, mending the pot as if it had never been broken.

Why did Alex and Sergio decide to climb the monastery tower?

Alex and Sergio decided to climb the monastery tower because they believed that being in an isolated and high place, similar to how St. Benedict went to the mountains, would help them hear God's voice.

What misconception did Alex have about fasting and how was it corrected?

Alex had the misconception that he needed to give up eating completely to hear God, similar to St. Benedict's fasting in the mountains. This was corrected by Br. Albert, who explained that eating and giving thanks to God for the food can also be turned into prayer.

What is the role of Br. Albert in the script?

Br. Albert is a monk and a doctor who helps Alex and Sergio by providing guidance and correcting their misunderstandings about monastic life and spirituality. He also shows them around the monastery and shares insights about St. Benedict's teachings.

How did St. Benedict's sister, St. Scholastica, contribute to the Benedictine spirituality?

St. Scholastica, St. Benedict's sister, contributed to the Benedictine spirituality by founding convents for nuns, following the same spiritual principles as her brother, thus extending the Benedictine way of life to women.

What lesson did Alex learn from his experience with the holy card of St. Benedict?

Alex learned to offer his daily activities, such as studying, to God as a form of prayer, embodying St. Benedict's motto 'ora et labora'. He placed a holy card of St. Benedict on his study desk as a reminder of this practice.

How did St. Benedict's death and the light associated with it impact the monks?

St. Benedict's death and the light that appeared at the moment of his passing, believed to be his soul ascending to heaven, served as a powerful testament to the sanctity of his life and the effectiveness of his spiritual practices, leaving a lasting impression on the monks.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Spiritual Retreat and Benedictine Monastery

The script opens with a family preparing for a spiritual retreat, emphasizing the importance of prayer over play. The children, Sara and Alex, are reminded of the retreat's purpose by their mother, Elena. At the Benedictine Monastery, Fr. Michael introduces the concept of spiritual retreat, explaining its focus on conversing with God. Sara shares that God communicates through Scripture, the Holy Sacrament, and conscience. Fr. Michael encourages preparation through prayer and silence. Alex, intrigued by the Benedictine way, asks about St. Benedict, leading to a narrative about his life, his pursuit of closeness to God, and the establishment of a peaceful prayer life in Efinde, including a miraculous event where a broken pot is mended through prayer.

05:03

🗣️ The Misadventure of Alex and Sergio

Alex and Sergio, two young boys, plan to climb the monastery's church tower to hear God, inspired by St. Benedict's solitary practices. They believe the height and the cross on the tower will help them receive divine messages. Armed with a book about St. Benedict and pen and paper, they attempt to document any communications from God. When their efforts prove fruitless, they consider fasting as a potential key to hearing God, as suggested by the book's account of St. Benedict's fasting practices. They discard their food in anticipation of a spiritual breakthrough.

10:04

📚 Learning from St. Benedict's Life

Br. Albert discovers Alex and Sergio and helps Alex, who has injured himself, revealing his dual role as a monk and a doctor. He corrects the boys' misconceptions about monastic life, explaining that monks also value education and can turn their studies into prayer. Br. Albert introduces them to the monastery library, showcasing St. Benedict's commitment to preserving knowledge. He also clarifies that fasting isn't a requirement for spiritual connection, and that even eating can be an act of prayer when done with gratitude. The boys learn about St. Benedict's founding of monasteries and his motto 'ora et labora', which they initially misunderstand as magical words.

15:04

🏰 The Heart of Monastic Life

Br. Albert explains the central role of the chapel in monastic life, symbolizing the constant connection to God regardless of daily activities. He presents the boys with a St. Benedict medal as a reminder to dedicate their days to God. The narrative includes a miraculous event where St. Benedict resurrects a monk, illustrating his deep connection with the divine. The script also touches on St. Benedict's death and the perception of his soul ascending to heaven, as witnessed by other monks.

20:06

🌟 St. Scholastica and the Legacy of St. Benedict

The script concludes with a discussion about St. Scholastica, St. Benedict's sister, who also established convents with similar spiritual principles. It recounts a story where St. Scholastica, knowing she would die soon, prays for a storm to keep her brother with her, allowing them to spend her final hours in prayer and discussion. The story emphasizes the bond between the siblings and their shared devotion to spiritual life. The script reflects on the impact of St. Benedict's teachings, as Alex decides to live by the motto 'ora et labora' and places a holy card of St. Benedict in his study as a reminder.

Keywords

💡Spiritual Retreat

A spiritual retreat is a period of time set aside for quiet reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth. In the video, the children attend a retreat at a Benedictine Monastery, which is a place dedicated to fostering a deeper relationship with God. The retreat is portrayed as an opportunity to step away from the distractions of daily life and focus on spiritual development, as emphasized by Elena's reminder to Alex that the retreat is about praying, not playing.

💡Benedictine

Benedictine refers to the monastic order that follows the Rule of St. Benedict, a set of guidelines for community life and personal spirituality. The video script mentions that the children are in a Benedictine Monastery, indicating that the monks living there adhere to this rule. The term is integral to understanding the setting and the spiritual practices depicted in the video.

💡St. Benedict

St. Benedict is the founder of the Benedictine order and is known for his emphasis on community life, prayer, and work. The script describes St. Benedict as someone who sought to be close to God, hear His voice, and do His will. His life and teachings are central to the video's narrative, as they provide the foundation for the spiritual practices and the monastic lifestyle being explored.

💡Conscience

Conscience refers to an individual's moral sense of right and wrong. In the video, Sara mentions that God speaks to us through our conscience, implying that it is a means by which we can discern God's will. This concept is crucial for understanding how the characters in the video are guided in their spiritual journey.

💡Fasting

Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food or certain pleasures for religious or spiritual reasons. In the script, Alex and Sergio consider fasting as a way to hear God, similar to how St. Benedict fasted in the mountains. Fasting is presented as a discipline that can help focus the mind and spirit, although the video also clarifies that it is not a strict requirement for spiritual connection.

💡Ora et Labora

Ora et Labora, Latin for 'Pray and Work,' is St. Benedict's motto and a central theme of the video. It encapsulates the idea of integrating prayer and work into a balanced spiritual life. The video illustrates this concept through the daily activities of the monks and the children's experiences, showing how all actions can be offered to God as a form of prayer.

💡Monastery

A monastery is a place where monks, typically living in community, devote their lives to prayer and work according to a spiritual rule. The video is set in a Benedictine Monastery, which serves as a backdrop for the children's spiritual retreat and where they learn about monastic life and the teachings of St. Benedict.

💡Miracle

A miracle is an extraordinary event attributed to a supernatural cause. In the script, a miracle is mentioned when St. Benedict prays over the broken pieces of a pot, and they reassemble themselves. This event highlights St. Benedict's closeness to God and serves as an example of divine intervention in the video's narrative.

💡Poisoning

The act of poisoning is referenced in the video when monks attempt to poison St. Benedict. This event illustrates the challenges and temptations faced by St. Benedict and serves as a test of his faith and commitment to his spiritual path.

💡Subiaco

Subiaco is a location near a place called Subiaco where St. Benedict retreated to a cave for prayer and fasting. The mention of Subiaco in the video script is significant as it marks a place of solitude and spiritual discipline, reflecting St. Benedict's pursuit of a life dedicated to God.

💡St. Scholastica

St. Scholastica is St. Benedict's sister, who also founded convents for nuns. Her inclusion in the video script highlights the broader influence of the Benedictine spirituality beyond monasteries for men, emphasizing the communal and familial aspects of spiritual life.

Highlights

Introduction to St. Benedict, monastic life, and Benedictine spirituality.

Elena reminds her children about the purpose of a spiritual retreat.

Fr. Michael explains how God speaks to us through Holy Scripture and conscience.

Sara shares how prayer and silence prepare us to hear God.

Introduction to the Benedictine Monastery and the rule of St. Benedict.

The story of St. Benedict's desire to be close to God and do His will.

The miraculous mending of a pot and the beginning of St. Benedict's recognition.

St. Benedict's retreat to a cave in Subiaco for solitude and prayer.

Alex and Sergio's plan to climb the monastery tower to hear God.

The importance of fasting in St. Benedict's spiritual journey.

St. Benedict's reluctant acceptance as an abbot and the monks' attempt to poison him.

The establishment of monasteries following St. Benedict's way of life.

The meaning of 'ora et labora' and how it applies to daily life.

Br. Albert's search for the missing boys and his role as a doctor and monk.

The significance of the monastery library and the preservation of ancient texts.

The misconception about fasting for spiritual retreats and Br. Albert's clarification.

The importance of the chapel as the center of the monastery.

The miracle of a monk's resurrection through St. Benedict's prayers.

The story of St. Scholastica and her last moments with St. Benedict.

Alex's personal application of St. Benedict's motto in his daily life.

Transcripts

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Narrator: St. Benedict,

the monastic life

and Benedictine

spirituality.

♪ ♪

Elena: Do you have your

toothbrushes?

Sara: Yes, mom.

Elena: Alex, don't forget

that a spiritual retreat is

about praying, not playing.

Alex: Yeah, I know.

Elena: You will be good,

won't you?

Alex: Yes, mom.

Sara: Don't worry, mom,

I'll look out for him.

(bus horn)

Alex: It's the bus!

Elena: Behave yourselves!

♪ ♪

Sara: See you on Sunday.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Fr. Michael: Well, children,

I'm very pleased that you've

come to spend some days

living in spiritual retreat.

We've come here to speak to

God, and listen to Him.

But how does God speak

to us?

Sara.

Sara: God speaks to us

through Holy Scripture, when

we worship Him in the Most

Holy Sacrament, and through

our conscience.

Fr. Michael: You're right.

That's why we have to be

prepared to hear Him.

And how do we prepare

ourselves?

Fr. Michael: Yes, Sara.

Sara: We can prepare

ourselves to hear God by

praying and being silent.

Fr. Michael: Very good.

Alex: Know-it-all.

♪ ♪

Fr. Michael: Well, since we're

in a Benedictine Monastery.

Alex: What does

Benedictine mean?

Fr. Michael: It means that the

monks who live here follow

the rule of St. Benedict.

Alex: Who was St. Benedict?

Fr. Michael: I'll tell you.

St. Benedict was a great Saint,

who wanted to be very close

to God, to hear His voice

and do His Will, because

this is the path to true

happiness.

♪ ♪

We all want to be

happy, don't we?

Well, the way to be happy

is to do what God wants us

to do, even if it's

hard for us.

So, St. Benedict

gave up his studies in Rome,

and went to a small village

called Efinde.

His old nurse, whose name

was Cirila, came with him

as his servant.

This was quite usual

in those days.

♪ ♪

Efinde was a small village,

where Benedict could pray

in peace.

They stayed there for a

while, until one day

something happened that

changed his life.

(crash!)

Cirila: Oh, the Lord

have mercy!

♪ ♪

Oh no, no.

Not that one!

Fr. Michael: Cirila had broken

a very valuable pot, which

did not belong to her.

Cirila (weeping): What will

I do now?

(Knock!)

Woman #1: Can I come in?

Cirila: Come in.

Woman #1: What are you doing

down there on the floor?

♪ ♪

Oh! That's my pot!

Cirila: I'm so sorry.

Woman #1: How could you do

such a thing?

Cirila: I am truly sorry.

I'm so clumsy.

Woman #1: That was the best

pot I owned.

♪ ♪

Fr. Michael: Cirila was

truly sorry about what had

happened, so when Benedict

came home, she told him all

about it.

Benedict saw that the pot

was very important to

Cirila, so he picked up the

pieces and went to his

bedroom.

♪ ♪

Benedict prayed long

and hard, and blessed the

pieces of pottery.

And then a miracle happened.

The pieces of pottery fitted

themselves together again

and the pot was mended, as

if it had never been broken.

Woman #1: It was a miracle!

I saw it!

All: Ahh!

Fr. Michael: From that time

onward, Benedict couldn't

go anywhere without being

followed.

Many people from the

village, and from villages

nearby, went to see him,

to ask him to perform more

miracles.

So Benedict had to move

away.

And this time he went on his

own, without Cirila, and he

set up his home in a cave in

the mountainside, near a

place called Subiaco.

There, he fasted and prayed

all day long.

Alex: Huh?

♪ ♪

Alex: I have an idea.

Sergio: An idea?

What kind of idea?

Alex: It's a way to hear God.

Sergio: To hear God?

Alex: Shhhh!

Keep it down, or everyone

will hear.

You remember what

Fr. Michael said?

St. Benedict went into the

mountains, to a place that

was isolated.

That's how he heard

God's voice.

Sergio: You want us to climb

a mountain?

You're crazy.

Alex: No, not a mountain,

but. what's the highest,

most out-of-the-way part of

the whole monastery?

Sergio: I don't know.

Alex: It's the church tower!

Sergio: Of course!

Alex: We'll slip away

tomorrow, and go climb

the tower.

It's as high as a mountain,

so once we're up there,

we'll be able to hear God.

Sergio: Okay.

♪ ♪

Alex: Excellent.

This is the perfect spot.

Besides, the cross

on top of the tower

will act like an antenna.

If God says anything, we're

in the ideal place

to hear Him.

Did you bring a pen

and paper?

Sergio: Yup.

Alex: We have to write down

everything God says to us.

I've brought the book about

the life of St. Benedict.

That way we can read about

what he did, and do the same

ourselves.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

We've been here an hour

and we haven't heard a thing!♪ ♪

It says here that

St. Benedict used to fast.

Maybe that's the key.

Sergio: You have to fast

to hear God?

Alex: Looks like it.

Come on, let's throw our

sandwiches down here.

Sergio: Well, wait!

Alex: What?

Sergio: I'm really hungry.

Alex: That's the point.

Fasting means, being hungry.

♪ ♪

Don't worry.

We'll pick them up later.

♪ ♪

Some monks who lived

nearby asked St. Benedict

to be their abbot,

but Benedict refused.

He said that he lived

a very simple life.

But the monks begged him

to accept, and in the end,

he did.

Benedict's life was hard.

He ate very little,

and spent every day praying

and making sacrifices.

Eventually, the other monks

grew tired of this way of

life, and tried to poison

him with wine.

Sergio: They tried to

poison him?

That's outrageous!

Alex: But God was watching

over Benedict.

And something surprising

happened.

When Benedict blessed the

wine, the glass broke.

Benedict saw that they

had tried to poison him,

and he left the monastery.

Sergio: I'm not surprised

he left.

Alex: He forgave them and

went back to Subiaco,

where he began to found

monasteries that would

follow his way of life.

Sergio: Monasteries like

this one.

Alex: That's right.

His motto was

"ora et labora".

Sergio: Huh!?

What did you just say?

Alex: "Ora et labora"

Sergio: That's the secret!

♪ ♪

Br. Albert: Two boys, you say,

both around 8 years old?

Fr. Michael: Yes.

They must be hiding

somewhere in the monastery.

Br. Albert: I'll look for them,

and tell them to re-join

the other children.

Fr. Michael: Thank you,

Br. Albert.

Those two specialize

in causing problems.

They're not bad children,

they're just mischievous.

Br. Albert: Don't worry,

Fr. Michael, I'll search

the monastery

from top to bottom.

♪ ♪

Sergio: What do you think?

It must be Latin!

Alex:Ora et labora.

Sergio: I bet that they're

magic words!

Alex: So you can hear

God's voice!

Sergio: Exactly.

Maybe God answers

when you say the words.

Alex: Let's try it.

We'll yell it from up here.

God's sure to hear us.

Boys:Ora et labora!!

Ora et laboraaaaa!!

Ora et laboraaaaa!!

Fr. Michael: "Ora et labora"

means "to pray and to work".

These words sum up

St. Benedict's

spiritual message.

It means to pray and

to work; to turn your work

into prayer.

Sara: How can you turn

your work into prayer,

Fr. Michael?

Fr. Michael: Well, by offering

it to God, and doing it well

--because we can't offer

badly-done work to God,

don't you agree?

Sergio: Not a word, even

when we yelled really loud.(Bell rings out)

Alex: Aaaaaaaah!

Sergio: Alex!

Are you okay?

Alex: I think I

broke my leg.

Sergio: Wait,

I'm coming down.

Don't move.

Alex: How could I move?

Br. Albert: Is there anybody

up there?

Sergio: Yes!

Up here in the tower!

Br. Albert: It looks like

we found them.

You'd better tell

Fr. Michael.

I'll go up there

and help them down.

Sergio: They're coming

to get us.

Br. Albert: Well, you

haven't broken anything.

Alex: It really hurts!

Br. Albert: You've just

sprained your ankle.

Alex: How do you know?

Br. Albert: I'm a doctor.

Alex: A doctor?

Aren't you a monk?

Br. Albert: I'm a monk,

and a doctor.

Alex: I thought that monks

were, well you know, monks.

You know what I mean.

Br. Albert: St. Benedict,

our founder, was a

very well-educated man,

and he wanted his children--

that's us--to study to the

best of our abilities.

♪ ♪

Br. Albert: Come with me.

I want to show you the

monastery library.

♪ ♪

Shhhh.

We have to keep our voices

down, because the monks

are studying.

St. Benedict kept many ancient

books, and had copies made

of them so that they

wouldn't be lost

or destroyed.

So you see, thanks to

his work, many important

classical works were

preserved.

Alex: I thought that monks

spent their whole time

praying.

Br. Albert: Well, you see,

if we offer our studies to

God, they become a prayer.

So yes, you're right, monks

pray all day long, because

we offer everything we do

to God.

Alex: Wow!

Br. Albert: Have you had

any breakfast?

Sergio: No.

My stomach's growling like

there was a lion inside.

Br. Albert: Come with me.

This is the monastery

kitchen.

Let's see what we have here.

Here, we bake this bread

ourselves.

Try it--it's the most

delicious bread you'll

ever taste.

Alex: Thank you, Br. Albert,

but we can't eat it.

Br. Albert: Oh, no?

Why not?

Alex: Because we're doing

a spiritual retreat.

Br. Albert: And what does that

have to do with eating?

Alex: Well, you see, you go

on a retreat to hear God,

right?

Br. Albert: Yes, that's right.

Alex: Well, we're getting

ourselves ready to hear Him,

and that's why we have to

fast like St. Benedict.

Br. Albert: (chuckles)

Goodness, who told you that?

Alex: It was in the book

about St. Benedict.

It says he went up to the

mountains to pray and listen

to God, and he fasted

every day.

Br. Albert: That's right,

but it doesn't mean that

you have to give up eating

to hear God.

Sergio: That's a relief!

Br. Albert: We can also eat,

and give thanks to God

for the food.

That way, you can turn

eating into a prayer too.

Sergio: Do you mean that

tasty foods and good things

can bring us closer to God?

Br. Albert: Of course!

God created the world and

filled it with good things!

Sergio: Like chocolate cakes?

Alex: Or strawberry jam?

Sergio: Yuck!

Strawberry jam?

Alex: What's wrong with that?

I love it.

Br. Albert: (chuckles)

Well, yes.

We can also give thanks

to God for the things

that we like.

Alex & Sergio: Yum!

Sergio: You're right,

it's delicious!

Fr. Michael: God speaks

without words because

He speaks to our heart.

Sara: I don't understand!

If God doesn't use words,

how can we understand Him?

Fr. Michael: Because God

makes us realize things.

He often talks to us

through the advice that our

Spiritual Director gives us,

or through our friends.

At other times, He talks

to us through the things

that happen to us.

The important thing is

to be in tune with God.

Sara: What does that mean,

"to be in tune with God?"

Fr. Michael: It means you have

to be ready to hear Him.

And that means you have to

be in a state of Grace,

and you have to pray.

♪ ♪

Br. Albert: This is the center

of the monastery.

Alex: The center?

Br. Albert: Yes, the chapel

is the most important room

in the monastery.

Whatever the monks are

doing, whether we're

studying or working,

our hearts are always here,

with Our Lord Jesus

in the Tabernacle.

Br. Albert: There, this is

a Holy Card of St. Benedict.

♪ ♪

Fr. Michael: St. Benedict

was given some land in

Montecassino, a region of

Italy, and there he built

his main monastery.

♪ ♪

One day, the monks were

building one of the walls

of the monastery when

suddenly.

Monk #2: Look out,

that wall, it's moving!

Monk #3: It's going

to collapse!

Monk #2: Run, brothers!

We have to get out of here!

Brother!

Monk #3: Nooooo!

Fr. Michael: One of

the monks died when

the wall collapsed.

♪ ♪

Fr. Michael: The monks

took the dead man

to St. Benedict's cell.

They were very sad.

Monk #2 (sobbing): There was

nothing we could do, Father,

it happened so fast.

Monk #3: Poor man.

Benedict: Brothers, leave me

with him for a moment.

Monk #2: As you wish,

Father.

Benedict: Lord, please bring

this brother of mine

back to life.

♪ ♪

Fr. Michael: God worked a

great miracle through

the intercession of

St. Benedict and the monk

came back to life.

♪ ♪

Br. Albert: Here.

This is a medal of

St. Benedict so that you

remember to offer the whole

of your day to God.

That way you will live

according to what our

founder said,

"ora et labora," which

means "pray and work."

Sergio: You see?

They weren't magic words.

Alex: You're right.

Br. Albert: Look!

On one side there's

St. Benedict, holding the cross

in one hand and the Book of

Rules in the other.

With a prayer, "May we at

our death be fortified by

His Presence."

On the other is the cross

of the Holy Father

St. Benedict.

♪ ♪

Alex: Thank you,

Br. Albert.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Fr. Michael: Well!

Welcome to the group!

Alex: We're real sorry

for going off on our own,

Fr. Michael.

Fr. Michael: That's all right,

but please don't do it again.

Is that clear?

Sergio: We promise.

Fr. Michael: We were finding out

about the life of

St. Benedict.

God told St. Benedict

when he was going to die,

so he asked his brothers

to dig his grave.

Benedict was struck

by fever.

On Good Friday, he received

Communion.

A little while later

the time came for him to

go to Heaven.

♪ ♪

Benedict: We must have

an immense desire

to go to Heaven.

Oh-oh!

Monk #4: Look at that!

Fr. Michael: Those monks

understood that the light

was the soul of St. Benedict,

who had died, and was

going up to heaven.

Monk #4: It must be our

Father Benedict, flying

to eternity.

Fr. Michael: That light appeared

at the very moment when

St. Benedict had died.

♪ ♪

Sara: Mom, are there

Benedictine nuns?

Elena: Of course.

St. Benedict's sister,

St. Scholastica,

also founded convents

for nuns, with the

same spirituality as

her brother Benedict.

♪ ♪

Look, I have a Holy

Card of St. Scholastica.

♪ ♪

The night before she died,

St. Scholastica asked her

brother Benedict to stay

with her, to talk about God,

but Benedict refused.

Benedict: You know I cannot

spend the night

away from my monastery.

I'll come back tomorrow.

♪ ♪

Elena: Scholastica knew

that she would die the next

morning, so she prayed to

God to allow her to spend

her last hours with her

brother.

God heard her prayer, and

sent such a wild storm that

Benedict was unable to leave

the monastery.

♪ ♪

So the brother and sister

could be together

until daybreak, talking

about God and eternal life.

The brother and sister were

buried together.

Sara: It's as if Alex

founded monasteries for

monks and I founded

convents for nuns.

♪ ♪

Alex: You know what, dad?

I learned a lot about the life

of St. Benedict this week.

Thomas: I'm very glad.

He was a great saint.

Alex: I offered the pain

in my leg to God.

Thomas: That little pain

is a great treasure

for the whole Church.

Alex: I know.

I also put a holy card of

St. Benedict on the desk

where I study,

so I'll always remember to

offer God the time I spend

studying every day.

Thomas: That's great!

It will be your way of

living according to

St. Benedict's motto:

ora et labora,

pray and work.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪