Conclusion
CONCLUSION
St. Benedict, the great Patriarch of the Western monks, died March 21, 547, on the Saturday preceding Passion Sunday. His edifying and victorious death was indeed suited to so great a champion of Christ. In his last hour, he assumed a standing position and thus manifested the power and authority his soul had attained over his body; even to the last moment, while a burning fever was consuming his life and strength, he held himself erect. He died in the church, in that sanctified place where daily with his brethren he had sung the praises of the Triune God and assisted in the celebration of the Sacred Mystery, the life-giving Sacrifice of the Mass. Even to this day, his sacred remains are resting beside those of his sister Scholastica in the church of St. John the Baptist at Monte Cassino.
In the course of years, numberless miracles have glorified his tomb. Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604) mentions that at his time, miracles were wrought through the intercession of St. Benedict whenever the petitioner was penetrated with lively faith.
St. Gregory says, “Not only on account of his numerous miracles was St. Benedict a shining light to the world, but also by reason of his precepts and his teachings. He wrote a rule for monks which is distinguished for its wonderful discretion and clearness of thought.”
In this rule, the Saint laid down laws and precepts necessary for conventual life. In seventy-three chapters he regulates the entire monastic life by combining the principles of the Gospel into a clear, concise rule for the life in a monastery. It is true that many holy men, as St. Basil the Great, St. Pachomius and the Irish Abbot St. Columban, had written monastic rules previous to this, but these were soon replaced by the Rule of St. Benedict, and within a hundred years it was introduced into nearly all the convents of Europe. When at the Council of Aachen, in 817, this rule was exclusively elevated as the code of laws for the monastic life, it became a source of blessing to the whole Church throughout the Middle Ages and up to the time of the suppression of monasteries. In the meantime, it was faithfully and punctually observed in about 37,000 convents and became a powerful factor in laying the foundation and fostering civilization and morality, science and art, among the people of Europe.
It had been assumed of old, and popes and councils had clearly expressed, that the holy rule was written through the enlightenment of the Holy Ghost. For this reason, it is so perfect and complete that it remained unaltered during fourteen centuries, and no one had ever thought of changing or improving it. In the general and essential precepts for the monastic life, for example, the teachings regarding obedience, silence, charity, poverty, etc., this rule was the standard, not only for the Order of St. Benedict, but for the monastic and religious life in general, and for all later forms and branches thereof.
As St. Gregory mentions, the holy rule is characterized by prudent regulation and by a wonderful discretion, the mother of all virtues, and therefore we behold a truly admirable combination of severity and mildness, of prudence and love. St. Fulgentius says that the Rule of St. Benedict contains everything that is required and is lacking in nothing; the followers thereof will attain to eternal glory. The truth of this statement is confirmed by the fourteen centuries of its existence and by the thousands of Saints it has produced. The Benedictine Order numbers about 60,000 Saints recognized by the Church, all of whom are indebted to the holy rule for their place upon its altars.
St. Benedict’s Glory in Heaven
At the time when St. Benedict entered the realms of eternal bliss, it was not yet customary for the Church to make investigations into the lives of those who had died in the odor of sanctity for the purpose of bringing about their canonization. It was sufficient whenever the voice of the people and clergy agreed with that of the bishop. This was the case with the servant of God, St. Benedict. Already during his life, he was universally believed to be a Saint, and his sanctity and miracles proved this beyond all doubt. After his death, no one doubted for a moment that he was permitted to take possession of the glory of Heaven as a recompense for his exceedingly meritorious life. God Himself confirmed this pious belief in his sanctity by the miracles which glorified his tomb and by granting the numerous petitions of those who invoked him. Popes and learned men vied with one another in praising and exalting the glories of the Saint. The greatest reward of Heaven is the vision of God, and this constitutes the actual and essential bliss, which is imparted to a soul according to the degree of grace it has merited. Let us consider the abundance of graces that St. Benedict possessed, even as a youth, and how by faithful cooperation he constantly increased therein to the end of his life. How glorious must his soul now be, and how near God’s throne! He was also endowed with the special prerogatives and adornments of the virgins, martyrs and doctors of the Church; for he distinguished himself in virginal purity, was a martyr of love by unceasingly crucifying his flesh and performing frequent and fervent acts of love, and he was a teacher and father to millions by word and example.
The immense number of his followers who, under his leadership, attained to eternal life and now surround him at the throne of God are to him a source of most extraordinary joy and glory. St. Gertrude, one of the most renowned of his spiritual daughters, once, on the Feast of St. Benedict, saw this her glorious Father before the throne of the Blessed Trinity all radiant and resplendent. His garments were brilliant, his countenance full of majesty and beauty, while magnificent roses seemed to spring forth from all the members of his body. From each of these roses there sprouted forth another, and from this again another, the last of which always surpassed the others in beauty and fragrance. The holy Father, thus adorned, was a wonderful spectacle of bliss and joy to the adorable Trinity and the whole heavenly host. From this vision, St. Gertrude understood that the roses signified the pious exercises whereby he subjected his flesh to the spirit and all the holy actions which he himself had performed during his life, as also the acts of virtue of those who through his example and teaching were induced to renounce the world and, following him on the royal road of monastic discipline, had already entered, or would still enter, the heavenly kingdom. Each of these is a particular glory to this great Patriarch, and while the entire heavenly host rejoices at his glory and happiness, they praise God for it unceasingly.
The love and confidence with which the faithful at Subiaco and Monte Cassino were devoted to St. Benedict increased still more after his death. The resting place of his sacred remains was frequently visited by great numbers. They prayed to him in their homes and everywhere, with the confidence that his power had not been lessened in Heaven and that his love would be as active and charitable as during life. Thus, within a very short time, the veneration of the Saint had spread throughout Italy, and later on, with the extension of his Order, over the entire West. Two hundred years later, in every village and city of Europe, his name was honored and his intercession invoked, and every country had erected monasteries in his honor. Princes and people, clergy and laity, the learned and the ignorant, all were intent on honoring him.
St. Benedict has ever been considered patron of a happy death and a most powerful intercessor at the last hour. His own death was most happy and precious. Standing praying before the Most Blessed Sacrament, he died like a champion, conquering flesh and Hell. St. Benedict appeared once to St. Gertrude, saying, “Whosoever reminds me of the extraordinary prerogative with which the Lord deigned to glorify my death shall be assisted by me at his death, and I will be his faithful protector against the assaults of the wicked enemy. Fortified by my presence, he will escape the snares of the evil one and safely attain to eternal glory.” This accounts for the confidence which animates the faithful in those countries where St. Benedict is specially venerated, that he would give them some sign of their approaching death and induce them to prepare themselves.
Promises
Promises made to the holy Father regarding the destiny of his Order and that of its friends and enemies:*
1. His Order will continue to exist to the End of the World.
2. It will, at the End of the World, in the final battle, render great services to the holy Church and confirm many in the Faith.
3. No one shall die in the Order whose salvation would not be assured. And if a monk begins to lead a bad life and does not amend, he will fall into disgrace, or be expelled from the Order, or will leave it of his own accord.
4. Everyone who persecutes his Order and does not repent will see his days shortened or meet with an unfortunate end.
5. All, however, who love his Order will obtain a happy death.