Saint Benedict, Patron Saint of Europe and Montecassino Abbey

Saint Benedict from Norcia, Patron Saint of Europe Saint Benedict was the founder of western monasticism. He was born around 480 a.d. in Nursia, Umbria, in the center of Italy At the age of 17 he retired in the Aniene Valley , not far from Rome, where he lived as a hermit until the Easter of the year 500 a.d. In the following years he created a monastic community composed by 13 monasteries. Between the years 525 and 529 he retired to Montecassino where he founded the monastery. During this period he drew up his famous Rule. (ora et labora) St. Benedict died in Montecassino in 1547, on the 21st of March. St. Benedict Polyptych of San Luca, part. 1453-54. Tempera on panel by Andrea Mantegna Milan Brera Art Gallery

The Rule in fact Benedict`s motto was ora et labora, that means The Rule divided the time of the day in different occupations, each hour was dedicated to a different activity , there was the time to work the land , to feed the animals, to read, to pray, to cook , to eat , to rest. Prayers and work were the most important actions: in fact Benedict`s motto was ora et labora, that means “ pray and work ” ! Monks following the rule of Benedict founded monasteries all over Europe from England to Germany and from Italy to Spain. The Crusaders even brought Benedictine life to the Holy Land. It was largely Benedictine monasteries that served as the exclusive centres of evangelization and Christian education throughout Europe for at least five centuries

Pope Paolo VI proclaimed St Pope Paolo VI proclaimed St. Benedict Co- Patron Saint of Europe in 1964 St Benedict was proclaimed Patron because he did something extraordinary, so he should be an example to follow and a figure to be respected. He was important for Europe because he permitted a rebirth of European society thanks to his Rule and to the long process of humanization which spread all over Europe He had the reputation of being : the messenger of peace, the maker of unity, the master of civilization, the herald of Christianity, the author of monasticism in the West. When darkness seemed to be spreading over Europe after the fall of the Roman empire, he brought the light of dawn to shine upon this continent, he sealed that spiritual unity of Europe in which the various nations of different ethnic origins and languages felt themselves to be united into one people of God. And so this unity, became the principle element in that period of history called the middle ages.

There are also other four co- patrons of Europe : St. Cyrillo and St. Methodius, St. Bridget of Sweden , St. Catherine of Siena, St. Theresa Benedicta of the cross , known as Edith Stein

The monastery of Montecassino, a centre of European cultural roots

History of the monastery The monastery underwent several destruction and it was rebuilt several times 529 the monastery was founded 577 destroyed by Lombard 883 invaded by Saracens 1349 earthquake 1944 bombardment 1955 reconstruction

It was founded by St. Benedict around the year 529, on the ruins of a pagan temple dedicated to Apollo. It has been a Christian cultural centre since its origins. It has undergone a lot of vicissitudes throughout the centuries Around 577 it was destroyed by the Lombard but in the VIII century it was rebuilt willingness to Pope Gregory II . In 883 the Saracens invaded the monastery, they plundered and fired it. A lot of monks died in that circumstance.

The most terrible destruction took place on 15 February 1944, during the Second World War: the monastery was razed to the ground, after a terrible bombardment by the allied forces. After this tragic event a long work of reconstruction was undertaken, with the financial support of the Italian State.

The Monastery after bombing and today, after its reconstruction

The Library of the Monastery Initially the library contained mostly volumes in papyrus and parchment. The library wasn`t destroyed with the earthquake in 1349 but in the following two centuries volumes were piled and got lost. In the 16th century the lost manuscripts were recovered and since then the library has been enriched with constantly purchases. In 1944 the Abbey was destroyed but funds of the archive and of the library, that had been saved before, came back in their collocation in 1955, during the works of reconstruction

This library is one of the 11 Italian public libraries that are considered monuments of the nation. Through this library Christian-medieval Latin spread in whole Europe: so we had a cultural union of European nations of that period.

In the library there is the first document of Italian language In 960 AD, following a dispute over the possession of land, a judgment was celebrated in which the first words of Vernacular Italian writing are present . The famous words are: «Sao ko kelle terre, per kelli fini que ki contene, trenta anni le possette parti Sancti Benedicti». "I know that those lands with those boundaries that here (on a site that was shown) are contained, the Monastery of St. Benedict possessed them for 30 years.

The first document in Vernacular Italian

COMENIUS PARTNERSHIP “ COMMON CULTURE MAKES COMMON CITIZENSHIP” ELEONORA DE SANTIS IV B LICEO SCIENTIFICO “ FRANCESCO SEVERI “ FROSINONE ITALY