Story of Saint Benedict | St. Benedict | Stories of Saints | English

Summary

The script narrates the inspiring life of St. Benedict, born in 480 AD in Italy. From his affluent upbringing to his quest for spiritual enlightenment, the story unfolds his journey to monastic life. Benedict's unwavering faith, discipline, and miracles, including walking on water and resurrecting the dead, earned him respect and established him as the founder of the Benedictine Order. His foresight of his own death and the establishment of monastic rules mark his legacy, celebrated on his feast day, March 21st.

Takeaways

• 🎓 St. Benedict was born in Nora, Italy, in 480 AD into a wealthy family and had a twin sister named Scholastica.
• 📚 At the age of 20, Benedict was sent to Rome for advanced studies where he was exposed to the city's corruption and moral decay.
• 🏞 Disillusioned by the lifestyle in Rome, Benedict decided to leave the city and seek a life of solitude in the mountains.
• 🙏 Benedict lived as a hermit, praying and performing miracles, which attracted followers and respect from the local Christians.
• 🏰 Despite his reluctance, Benedict was invited to become the abbot of a monastery with monks eager to learn from his disciplined ways.
• 🚫 Benedict faced resistance and even attempts on his life, including being poisoned by monks who disagreed with his strict rules.
• 🌱 He founded 12 monasteries in the Subiaco valley, appointing superiors and constructing schools, influencing the spread of monastic life.
• 🤝 Benedict was known for his miraculous acts, including restoring a broken wheat sifter, providing water during a scarcity, and even raising a dead boy.
• 🦅 He encountered a blackbird, a symbol of the devil, and overcame a severe temptation of the flesh through prayer and self-mortification.
• 👑 St. Benedict had an encounter with King Totila, predicting his reign and death, demonstrating his foresight and spiritual wisdom.
• ✝️ St. Benedict is celebrated for his contributions to monasticism, with his 'Rule of St. Benedict' setting a standard for communal living and discipline, and is revered until his death on March 21st, 547.

Q & A

What was the name of the small village in Italy where St. Benedict was born?

St. Benedict was born in a small remote village named Nora.

What did St. Benedict's parents decide to name him, and what does it mean?

St. Benedict's parents named him Benedict, which means 'the blessed one'.

Why did St. Benedict leave Rome and his studies at the university?

St. Benedict left Rome and his studies because he was unhappy with the corrupt and depraved environment and the wayward life of his friends.

What was the first miracle St. Benedict performed?

The first miracle St. Benedict performed was magically restoring a broken wheat sifter by just waving his hands.

How did St. Benedict respond to the shepherds who mistook him for an animal?

St. Benedict calmly introduced himself and explained why he was living in the mountains, which led to the shepherds respecting him and spreading his reputation.

What struggle did St. Benedict face with the devil, and how did he overcome it?

St. Benedict faced a violent temptation of the flesh, where the devil brought an image of a woman before his mind. He overcame it by throwing himself into a thicket of briars and nettles, inflicting physical pain to distract from the temptation.

Why did St. Benedict initially refuse to become the abbot of a nearby monastery?

St. Benedict initially refused because he knew about the lack of discipline in the monastery and believed his way of life was completely different from theirs.

What did St. Benedict do when he was poisoned by the monks of the monastery?

After being poisoned, St. Benedict forgave the monks, told them to find another abbot, and then returned to his cave to live in solitude once again.

How did St. Benedict address the scarcity of water in the valley?

St. Benedict guided his monks to climb a rock where they found water, which was considered a miracle.

What happened when King Totila wanted to test St. Benedict's miraculous powers?

St. Benedict recognized that the person who visited him was not King Totila but a guard in disguise, demonstrating his wisdom and insight.

How did St. Benedict foresee his own death, and what did he do before he passed away?

St. Benedict foresaw his death and informed his disciples. Six days before his death, he had his grave opened. He took his last holy communion in the Oratory, supported by the monks, and then passed away.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Early Life and Education of St. Benedict

This paragraph introduces St. Benedict, born in 480 AD in a wealthy Italian family. He and his twin sister Scholastica received primary education in Nora. At the age of 20, Benedict moved to Rome for higher studies, where he pursued philosophy, history, and literature. However, he was disheartened by the immoral lifestyle of his peers and decided to leave Rome, seeking a more virtuous path.

05:03

🏞️ Benedict's Retreat and Early Monastic Life

Benedict retreated to a small village near the mountains east of Rome, where he lived among virtuous men. He performed his first miracle, restoring a broken wheat sifter, which led to his recognition and subsequent desire for solitude. He lived as a hermit, praying and attracting followers, including shepherds who spread his teachings. A priest's divine encounter led to Benedict sharing a meal and further solidifying his spiritual influence.

10:06

🔥 Trials and Temptations of St. Benedict

The paragraph describes Benedict's struggles with temptations and the devil. He encountered a blackbird, a symbol of the devil, and overcame a severe temptation of the flesh by throwing himself into thorny bushes. These trials strengthened his character and discipline, leading to respect among locals and an invitation to become an abbot, which he initially declined but later accepted with the promise of change from the monks.

15:07

🏰 Establishing Monastic Discipline and Miracles

As the abbot, Benedict imposed strict discipline, causing initial resistance among the monks. They attempted to poison him, but his faith protected him. Benedict returned to solitude after this incident and later established 12 monasteries in the Subiaco valley, appointing superiors and building schools. He became the abbot of all, performing miracles like finding water during scarcity and saving Placidus from drowning by enabling Morris to walk on water.

20:08

👑 Interactions with King Totila and Benedict's Legacy

Benedict's reputation led King Totila to seek a meeting and test his powers. Benedict foresaw Totila's future accurately. He also raised a dead boy and healed many. Benedict's final years were dedicated to realizing monasticism's communal ideal and formalizing discipline through his famous rule. He predicted his death, which occurred on March 21st, 547, and is celebrated as his feast day. Symbols associated with him include a blackbird, rosebush, dove, and luminous stairway.

Keywords

💡St. Benedict

St. Benedict is the central figure of the video script, a historical and religious character known for his life of piety and miracles. As the founder of the Benedictine Order, he is depicted as a man seeking spiritual enlightenment and discipline, which is the main theme of the video. The script narrates his life, from his birth in a wealthy family to his decision to leave the corrupt city life, his time as a hermit, and his eventual role as an abbot performing miracles.

💡Monasticism

Monasticism is the religious practice of living as a monk or nun, separated from the world for a life of contemplation and worship. In the script, St. Benedict's journey and the establishment of monasteries exemplify the principles of monasticism. His creation of the 'Rule of St. Benedict' is a keystone of Western monasticism, emphasizing communal living, prayer, and work.

💡Discipline

Discipline in the script refers to the strict rules and practices that St. Benedict imposed on himself and later on the monks under his guidance. It is a fundamental aspect of his character and the monastic life he promoted, which included fasting, prayer, and avoidance of worldly temptations. The monks' initial resistance to Benedict's discipline highlights the struggle between worldly habits and spiritual commitment.

💡Miracles

Miracles in the script are supernatural events attributed to divine intervention, performed by St. Benedict as signs of his sanctity. Examples include restoring a broken wheat sifter, walking on water to save Placidus, and raising a dead boy. These miracles serve to illustrate the spiritual power and divine favor of St. Benedict.

💡Temptation

Temptation in the script represents the allure of worldly pleasures and sins that St. Benedict had to overcome to maintain his spiritual integrity. His struggle with the devil in the form of a blackbird and his extreme act of jumping into a thorn bush to resist fleshly temptation underscore the challenges faced by those pursuing a religious life.

💡Hermit

A hermit is a person who chooses to live in solitude, typically for religious reasons. In the script, St. Benedict's period as a hermit is a significant part of his spiritual journey. It reflects his desire for a life of prayer and contemplation away from the distractions and corruptions of society.

💡Abbot

An abbot is the head of a monastery. The script describes how St. Benedict was initially reluctant but later accepted the role of abbot over multiple monasteries. His leadership was marked by the imposition of strict discipline and the performance of miracles, which helped to transform the monastic communities.

💡Poison

In the script, poison is used as a symbol of treachery and resistance to St. Benedict's reforms. The monks' attempts to poison him reflect the conflict between his strict discipline and their previous, more lenient way of life. The miraculous avoidance of the poison demonstrates divine protection.

💡Saint Scholastica

Saint Scholastica is St. Benedict's twin sister, mentioned in the script as a fellow religious figure. Her relationship with Benedict and the fact that he wished to be buried next to her highlight the familial and spiritual bond between them, adding a personal dimension to the narrative.

💡Rule of St. Benedict

The Rule of St. Benedict is a set of guidelines for monastic living that he developed, which the script mentions as his effort to formalize monastic discipline. It is a significant contribution to Christian monasticism, emphasizing obedience, silence, and humility, and continues to influence monastic life today.

💡Feast Day

A feast day is a day on which a particular saint is commemorated in the Christian calendar. The script concludes by mentioning that the feast of St. Benedict is celebrated on March 21st, marking the day of his death and serving as a reminder of his spiritual legacy.

Highlights

Jim wins a football match and his sister excels in a history test.

Introduction of St. Benedict's early life in a wealthy family and his twin sister Scholastica.

Benedict's education in Rome and his exposure to the city's corrupt environment.

Benedict's decision to leave Rome and seek a life of solitude and spiritual growth.

Benedict's first miracle of restoring a broken wheat sifter.

Benedict's life as a hermit and the respect he gained from locals.

Benedict's encounter with shepherds and his influence in converting them to Christianity.

A priest's divine calling to provide for Benedict and their subsequent meeting.

Benedict's struggles with temptations and his miraculous overcoming of them.

Benedict's appointment as the abbot of a nearby monastery and his strict discipline.

Monks' attempt to poison Benedict and his miraculous escape.

Benedict's return to solitude and his establishment of 12 monasteries in the valley.

Benedict's guidance of Morris and Placidus, who become prominent figures in the Benedictine Order.

Benedict's miraculous finding of water during a scarcity in the valley.

Morris's miraculous ability to walk on water to save Placidus from drowning.

Benedict's foresight of his own death and the opening of his grave.

Benedict's prophecy about King Totila's reign and death.

Benedict's creation of the Rule of St. Benedict to formalize monastic discipline.

St. Benedict's death and the celebration of his feast day on March 21st.

Symbols associated with St. Benedict and his depiction in art.

Transcripts

[Music]

how was your day Jim it was good uncle

we won the football match today

wow that's excellent Jim an ice got full

marks in the history test

you are always amazing Joan Thank You

uncle now shall I tell you the story of

a saint today we are ready ha ha all

right I'm gonna tell you the story of

st. Benedict today now listen carefully

Benedict was born in a small remote

village in Italy named Nora

in 480 ad

[Music]

he was born in a wealthy family and he

had a twin sister named Scholastica my

son I'm going to name you Benedict which

means the blessed one that's an

excellent name my dear and what do you

want to name our daughter how abouts

elastica that's a wonderful name

[Music]

Benedict attended his primary school in

Norco along with his sister it was a

common practice among the wealthy

families to send their sons to Rome for

Advanced Studies by the time Benedict

reached the age of 20 his family decided

to send him to Rome as well we are going

to miss you my son don't worry father

I'll be all right take care of your

health and don't forget to send letters

don't worry mother I will

goodbye Benedict goodbye Scholastica

let's talk master Benedict was also

accompanied by his old nurse who was

entrusted with the responsibility of

taking care of him

Benedick started his classes at a

prestigious University in Rome and he

began to broaden his knowledge by

studying the great works of humanity he

studied philosophy history and

literature

he believed that education would lead

his mind and body to God who's there hey

there hello why are you here at this

time of the night

hey Benedict do you want to come with us

to our party what no I have much to

study look at you you should be enjoying

your life my friend come with us

yes come with us there will be many

girls there it's going to be fun no I'd

rather stay here and study are you doing

there

aren't you coming to the party oh it's

already late come let's go you are such

a fool to waste your time Benedict was

sad to see that his friends were leading

a wayward life wine loose women and

prude behavior were all they were

interested in God please help me give me

strength to never go astray

[Music]

give me the money no I said leave the

bag to these that's all I have you

stupid old fool how dare you ah

hey stop huh stop you thief

help help me huh hey sir please help me

don't worry sir it's going to be all

right thank you son

you're so kind Benedict was unhappy with

what was going on around him he did not

want to make the same mistakes that

everyone did he then arrived at a

decision the next day

Benedict quit his studies and packed his

bags to leave the city

he took his old nurse with him and

headed for the mountains according to

Pope Gregory's account giving over his

books and forsaking his father's house

and wealth

where are we going monster I don't know

all I know is that I have to get away

from the city rejecting all the corrupt

and depraved environment of the city

Benedict went to a feel a small village

near the mountains east of Rome Benedict

reached the Church of st. Peter and he

then explained the reasons for leaving

the city to the priests there and and

that's why I left the city I could not

live there any longer hmm we understand

your concerns you are welcome to stay

here as long as you like thank you thank

you so much

Benedict then lived in the company of

virtuous men who were sympathetic to his

feelings

one day he was as usual speaking to the

monks he who Labor's as he prays lifts

his heart to God with his hands huh what

happened I'm sorry master I just broke

the weed sifter oh don't worry it's all

right

Benedict worked his first miracle that

day he magically restored the broken

wheat sifter by just waving his hands

[Music]

huh it it's American master how how did

you do that yes yes that man must be a

divine person the news of the miracles

spread fast and soon many people came to

see Benedict

this made Benedict even more frustrated

so he left the church and decided to

live on the slopes of a mountain away

from everyone

Benedict then lived the life of a hermit

praying to God most of the time

[Music]

[Music]

one day when he came to the river nearby

some Shepherds caught sight of him

Hey look huh

what is it look near that River

can you see anything huh is that is that

an animal I think so huh

let's go and take a closer look let's go

the Shepherd's mistook benedict for an

animal as he was all dressed up in

animal skins what makes a man huh you

who are you and what are you doing in

the mountains hello my name is Benedict

Benedict then explained why he was

living in the mountains to them when the

Shepherd's realized that he was a

servant of God they started respecting

him they visited him often bringing

their friends and family along to hear

him speak all of them are quite moved

with the words of Benedict and many of

them converted to Christianity one day

it so happened that a priest was

preparing his dinner on an Easter Sunday

when he suddenly heard a divine voice

you are preparing yourself a banquet

while my servant Benedict etsu Macumba

distressed nidhogg ah uh that was that

of issues

the kind priests immediately set off

searching for Benedict hello I said it

once you're the priest searched for

Benedict everywhere he searched near the

river in the nearby villages and finally

the priest found Benedict outside his

cave Benedict was surprised to see a man

come searching for him before they

entered a conversation

Benedict requested him to join him in

his prayer and after praying together

they chatted for some time and Benedict

ate the food that the priest brought for

him

from that day many others climb their

way up the steep cliff they carried

small offerings of food with them when

they came to visit Benedict

[Music]

st. Benedict had to struggle with

temptations of the flesh and the devil

one of these struggles is described by

Saint Gregory on a certain day when he

was alone

the tempter presented himself a small

dark bird commonly called a blackbird

began to fly around his face and came so

near to him that if he had wished he

could have seized it with his hand

Benedict realized that this was the

devil in disguised form oh but on making

the sign of the Cross the bird flew away

then followed a violent temptation of

the flesh such as he had never before

experienced the evil spirit brought

before his imagination a woman whom he

had formerly seen and inflamed his heart

with such vehement desire at the memory

of her that he had very great difficulty

in repressing it the memory was so

strong that he even thought of leaving

the solitude Oh suddenly with the help

of divine grace he found the strength he

needed when he looked around he saw a

thick growth of briars and Nettles

he stripped off his habit and jumped

himself into the midst of them he

plunged and tossed around the thorns

badly tearing his skin his whole body

was wounded and blood was dripping all

over

ah through those bodily wounds he cured

the wounds of his soul Benedict had won

over the temptations and never again was

he disturbed by the devil

Benedict matured both in mind and

character by living the life of a hermit

his life of discipline and solitude also

won him respect among the local

Christians one day a few monks from the

nearby monastery came to visit him the

abbot of the monastery had died recently

and they were here to invite him to be

their new abbot good morning master good

morning son why are you here Master you

must have heard about the death of our

Abbot via Varro

hmm yes I did he was such a good man

master we came here to ask if you would

be willing to become our new Abbot yes

master it would be our pleasure to serve

on the

but Benedict knew too well about the

lack of discipline in the monastery no I

can't do that

but master we could learn from you so

much

look my son I'm happy that you

considered me but I I just can't accept

a post my way of life and yours is

completely different there is no way

that we can get along together Master

you don't have to worry about that we

are willing to change our ways

if you become our habit and after a lot

of compulsion Benedict finally agreed to

accept the post Benedict took charge as

the abbot of the monastery and started

imposing his strict discipline on the

monks brothers let us fast today let us

not to eat anything come with me to the

prayer hall how dare he the monks soon

got frustrated with the new rules of the

monastery I knew this was a bad idea

from the beginning why did we have to

bring that savage to the monastery we

had such a good life here and now huh

what does he think of himself we must

get rid of him quickly hey I have an

idea what what is it

the monks got tired of the strict rules

of Benedict so they decided to poison

him please drink this master thank you

brother

Benedict's didn't realize that his drink

was poisoned so he took the glass and as

usual closed his eyes for praying

[Music]

what huh

it was poisoned wasn't it we we are

sorry master why did you have to plot

this wicked thing against me did I tell

you before that my vase are not the same

as yours now go and find another abort

after what you have done I can no longer

stay here Benedikt then returned to his

cave and started living again in

solitude however many people attracted

by Benedict's sanctity and character

came to Subiaco to seek His guidance and

learn the true way of monastic life over

the years he started 12 monasteries in

the valley he appointed different

superiors for each of his monasteries he

also constructed many schools for

children

[Music]

when Benedict started the 13th monastery

he started living there and took charge

as the abbot of all 13 monasteries

Benedict's Fame spread rapidly people

came all the way down from Rome to visit

him it was during this time that he was

entrusted with the responsibility of

taking care of Morris and Placidus who

later on became the two gems of

Benedictine family once it so happened

that there was a severe scarcity of

water in the valley the monks who lived

in the monastery had no water to drink

and do their chores Benedict went

searching for water as he knew that God

will always provide now climb that rock

and you will find water on the other

side huh are you sure master do you

doubt me I'm sorry I will go and see

master

[Music]

Morris look it's a miracle

[Music]

it's a miracle we have found water

puff-puff-puff-puff Benedict performed

many other miracles during his time

one day Placidus who had gone near the

lake fell into the water and started

drowning ah help somebody help Benedict

who was sleeping in his cell was able to

sense the danger he ran to meet Morris

and asked him to go and help Placidus

but master even if it's true how would I

save him I don't know how to swim don't

worry about that you will be able to

walk on water now hurry go now I'm going

master I'm able to walk on water

it was another miracle

Morris walked on water and Placidus was

saved that day but not everyone was

happy with what was going around some

monks at the monastery were tired of the

strict rules of Benedict and they tried

to poison him again this time they

poisoned his bread

this time before he could even bite the

bread a bird flew in and snatched the

bread away

[Music]

Benedikt performed many miracles in his

lifetime including raising a boy who was

dead it so happened that there was an

accident while they were constructing a

wall a little boy was crushed to death

during the accident but Benedict raised

him from the dead

healing his utterly destroyed body the

boy was completely healed and he started

helping at the site immediately

[Music]

thoth illa the king of Goths

had heard of Benedict and wished to meet

him but before seeing him in person he

wanted to test Benedict to see if he

really had miraculous powers one day he

asked his guard to dress in his usual

attire and sent him with three escorts

to visit Benedict

but Benedict was not fooled my son take

off what's your bearing it does not

belong to you but how did you know the

guard was dumbfounded by Benedict's

wisdom and he hurried back to his king

to report the news to tell himself

visited Benedict and he was so inspired

that he knelt before him in awe Benedict

warned Tortola that he had done much

evil and he should change his ways to at

least end his life in honor before told

that totala would enter Rome crossed the

sea and would go on to reign for nine

years after which he will die it

happened exactly as Benedict had

foretold Thoth illa did go to Rome and

then later sailed to Sicily in ten years

he lost his crown and like Benedict

predicted he died

Benedict spent the final years of his

life seeking to realize the ideal of

monasticism in a communal setting in

order to create unity and formalize the

discipline he drew up his famous rule

according to the tradition st. Benedict

died on March 21st 547 he foresaw his

coming death and he informed his close

and far away disciples that his death

was near six days before dying he had

the grave which he was supposed to share

with his deceased sister st. Scholastica

opened he asked the monks to take him to

the Oratory where after taking his last

holy communion he died supported by the

monks

that was such an amazing story thanks

for telling the story uncle hmm I'm glad

you liked it too Benedict is often

depicted along with the symbols like

Blackbird a rosebush a dove or a

luminous stairway leading to heaven he

is also often depicted with King Tortola

at his feet the feast of Saint Benedict

is celebrated on March 21st

that's all for today I will tell you the

story of another saint tomorrow goodbye

children goodbye uncle

[Music]

[Music]