1. Faith Expressed and Lived Chapter 9

2. Monasticism Stems from the Greek word meaning “one, alone”. Individuals who whole heartedly wished to follow Christ separated themselves from the world. They either lived alone or in religious communities.

3. Monasticism Monasticism did not spread to the Western Church until the 6 th century. Saint Benedict of Nursia established a religious community at Monte Cassino, Italy. Under his Rule, the monks divided their waking hours between work and prayer.

4. Saint Benedict of Nursia

5. Born around 480 A.D. in Nursia, Italy. Had a twin sister named Scholastica. She started a monastery for nuns near Monte Cassino. studied at Rome and early in life was drawn to the monastic life. At first he became a hermit, leaving a depressing world—pagan armies on the march, the Church torn by schism, people suffering from war, morality at a low ebb.

6. Saint Benedict of Nursia He soon realized that he could not live a hidden life in a small town any better than in a large city, so he withdrew to a cave high in the mountains for three years. Some monks chose him as their leader for a while, but found his strictness not to their taste.

7. Saint Benedict of Nursia The shift from hermit to community life had begun for him. He had an idea of gathering various families of monks into one “Grand Monastery” to give them the benefit of unity, fraternity, permanent worship in one house. In 529 A.D. he founded a monastery at Monte Cassino, in southern Italy.

8. Saint Benedict of Nursia He wrote a set of rules by which the monks would lead a spiritual life that combined work and prayer. The Rule that gradually developed prescribed a life of liturgical prayer, study, manual labor and living together in community under a common father (abbot). Benedictine asceticism is known for its moderation, and Benedictine charity has always shown concern for the people in the surrounding countryside.

9. Saint Benedict of Nursia In the course of the Middle Ages, all monasticism in the West was gradually brought under the Rule of St. Benedict. Today the Benedictine family is represented by two branches: the Benedictine Federation and the Cistercians.

10. Passing on the Faith Perhaps the greatest contribution of the monasteries is the spirituality they passed on to the secular world. In addition to copying Scripture and preserving the writings of the Church Fathers, monks enhanced the celebration of the liturgy with chant and taught people the importance of prayer. The monks reminded people of what is truly important- their faith.

11. The Spirit to Know You - St. Benedict of Nursia Gracious and Holy Father, Please give me: intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you and perseverance to look for you. Grant me a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection and life everlasting.

12. The Growth of Monastery Monasteries became centers of education at a time when people lacked education. Important books were kept by the nuns and monks. These books included the Bible. Monasteries were also a place that gave shelter to travelers and care to the sick.

13. The Growth of Monastery Monasteries also stabilized economies by clearing the land for development and improving farming methods. Monasteries were safe havens during periods of unrest and became centers of culture.