Chapter XXXVIII.
Chapter XXXVIII.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
How a mad woman was cured in his cave.
In the cave also in which he formerly lived in Subiaco, even to this day, miracles are wrought upon such as repair thither with true faith. For very lately happened that which I now relate. A certain woman bereft of reason, and altogether distracted in her senses, roamed over mountains and valleys, through woods and fields by day and night, never resting, except when forced from weariness to lie down. One day, as she raged thus madly up and down, she lighted upon the cave of blessed Benedict, and by chance entered and remained there.
The next morning she came out as sound and perfect in her senses as if she had never been out of them, and from that time remained all her life in the health which she had there recovered.
PETER.
What should be the reason that we experience, even in the patronage of martyrs, that they do not bestow so great favours by their bodies as by their relics: yea, and do greater miracles where themselves be not?
GREGORY.
Where the bodies of holy martyrs lie, no doubt, Peter, but there they are able to shew many miracles, as they do; for to such as have recourse unto them, with pure mind, they shew many marvellous favours. But forasmuch as weak souls might doubt whether they be present to hear them or no in those places where their bodies be not, it is necessary to shew more miracles where weak souls may doubt of their presence. For they whose minds are fixed in God have so much the greater merit of faith, that though their bodies lie not there, yet they be there present to hear our prayers. Wherefore Truth Itself to increase the faith of His disciples said: "If I go not away the Paraclete will not come unto you." For whereas it is certain, that the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, always proceedeth from the Father and the Son: why doth the Son say that He will go from them that the Paraclete may come, who never departeth from the Son? But because the Disciples beholding our Lord in the flesh, did desire always to behold Him with their corporeal eyes, it was rightly said unto them:
"Unless I go away the Paraclete will not come." As if He had said plainly: If I withdraw not My bodily presence, I do not shew you the love of the Spirit: and, unless you cease to see
Me carnally, you will never learn to love spiritually.
PETER.
What you say pleaseth me.
GREGORY.
Let us now for a while cease our discourse, that by silence we may be the better enabled to prosecute the miracles of other saints.
THE END.
Chronology of the Life of the Most Holy Patriarch
CHRONOLOGY
OF THE
LIFE OF THE MOST HOLY PATRIARCH
SAINT BENEDICT
(from Haften's Disgnis. Monast.) "His memory shall not depart away; and his Name shall be in request from generation to generation." (Ecclus. 39) (The figures in parenthesis denote the age of St. Benedict.)
YEAR.
480. (—) St. Benedict and his twin-sister St. Scholastica are born in Nursia, a town in the south of Italy: their Father, Anicius Eupropius: their Mother, Abundantia.
487. (7.) St; Benedict is sent to Rome to study, his nurse Cyrilla accompanies him.
493. (13.) God, calling him to higher things, and the dangers of the world prompting him to leave it, he quits Rome to seek salvation and perfection in solitude. On their way in a little village, 30 miles from Rome, he works a miracle to console Cyrilla.
494. (14.) He leaves Cyrilla and goes alone to Subiaco, a mountainous district, 40 miles distant from Rome: meets a holy Hermit named Romanus, from whom he asks and receives the Religious Habit: then going into a little Cave amidst the rocks, dwells there in union with his God in prayer, unknown to all, excepting St. Romanus who brought him food.
497. (17.) On the Easter Sunday of this year, a Priest receives a command from God to visit this Cave, and honour the youthful hermit.
Some neighbouring Shepherds discover the Saint.
He gains the noble victory over the spirit of impurity and placing the lily of his Chastity amidst thorns and nettles, he secures it against every temptation for the remainder of his life.
509. (29.) His sanctity becoming noised abroad many men leave the world, and put themselves under his spiritual guidance.
510. (30.) After frequent refusals he, at last, yields to the request of the Monks of VicoVarro, who besought him to become their Abbot. As he had foretold them they grew angry at his corrections: they seek to poison him: he returns to his dear solitude of Subiaco.
St. Maurus is born.
511. (31.) During the next 19 years St. Benedict builds 12 monasteries on the Subiaco mountains.
515. (35.) St Placid is born.
Chronology of the Life of the Most Holy Patriarch 522. (42.) Sts. Maurus and Placid are brought to Subiaco by their Parents, and receive from St. Benedict the Monastic Habit.
523. (43.) St. Maurus in obedience to St. Benedict walks on the waters of the lake, into which St. Placid had fallen, and saves him from being drowned.
529. (49.) St. Benedict leaves Subiaco, and goes to Mount Cassino (about 50 miles south of Subiaco).
530. (50.) He begins to build the Monastery of Mount Cassino.
536. (56.) He sends St. Placid into Sicily.
St. Benedict has the mysterious vision, in which God grants him the sight of the whole world, brought together in one ray of the sun.
537. (57.) St. Placid begins the Monastery at Messina in Sicily: he finishes it in 4 years.
539. (59.) During a famine St. Benedict distributes to the poor all the corn of the Monastery: on the following day he receives from Heaven, in return, 200 bushels of flour.
In hatred of Disobedience and out of love for Charity he works the miracle of the glass oil-jar.
Whilst he is at prayer with some of his Brethren, an empty vessel which was in the room is miraculously filled with oil, even to over-flowing.
541. (61.) St. Placid is martyred (probably in this year).
543. (63.) King Totila the Barbarian visits St. Benedict: receives his paternal reproach and prophecy.
On the 10th of January, St. Benedict sends St. Maurus into France.
On the 6th of February he has the last conference with his sister St. Scholastica.
On the 10th of February, he sees the soul of his Sister, St. Scholastica, ascending to heaven under the form of a Dove.
On the 16th of March, knowing that the hour of his Death is near he orders his grave to be opened.
On the 21st of March at 3 o'clock in the morning, standing in the chapel of his Monastery of Mount Cassino, supported by his Religious, he dies, in the 63rd year of his age.
The Rule of Our Most Holy Father Saint Benedict THE RULE OF OUR
MOST HOLY FATHER SAINT BENEDICT.
Pax multa diligentibus legem tuam.
Mark a monk, Disciple of the Holy Father Benedict.
While the blind crowd at idol shrines profane devotions paid, Believing that by mortal hands immortal gods were made,
This fane with altars ruinous by them was whilom built, Who offered to the impure Jove a sacrifice of guilt;
But holy Benedict, by God called from the desert lone, Made pure this port, the statues broke, threw down the sculptur'd stone.
A temple for the living God this idol fane is now:
Let not the faithful soul delay to pay his pious vow; But hither haste, spite of rough ways; his recompense shall be
That he the heavens opened wide with eye of faith may see.
With hard and toilsome labour'tis that great things are attained:
Within the narrow path alone the blessed life is gained.
While hither coming penitent bow'd down with load of sin, I felt its weight was gone from me, I felt at peace within;
And I believe in bliss above I too shall have my share, If thou for Marcus, Benedict, wilt breathe an earnest prayer.
The foolish people once had called this place a citadel And dedicated, for their gods of marble there to dwell;
But had they wished to find true words with which to stamp the same, Tartarean Chaos blank, confused, had been its rightful name.
Hither they wandered, blinded fools, unceasing vows to pay To the death-dealing thundering Jove, acknowledging his sway.
The hall's high summit, I suppose, he once had struck in vain, Giving the name of citadel to this now sacred fane.
Against it now shall not prevail gates of eternal Hell:
That which the stronghold was of Death is now Life's citadel.
From here is stormed the golden gate of the bright starry heaven
The Rule of Our Most Holy Father Saint Benedict While the bless'd crowd sing angel strains to angel voices given.
From here, O Hermit thou dost speak to God the Thunderer true On mountain heights leading thy quire, the faithful chosen few.
When from a mountain far away to this mount thou didst come Christ wast thy guide, thy path, whilst thou the desert drear didst roam.
He angels sent to keep thy feet at every cross-way Lest from the rightful destin'd path thy faltering steps should stray.
He had foretold to thee, just man, alone in desert land, Avoid these spots, another friend to guide thee is at hand.
Now thou art taken home to him, the mountain's lurid dye Takes colour from the lowering clouds which hide its top from view.
The caves drip down with copious tears, the barren grottoes mourn, The beasts their denizens lament—thou hast left all forlorn.
Thee too the lakes and brooks have wept with deep and unfeign'd grief.
The wood unkempt hath shed for thee each rent and withered leaf.
Fables I speak not when I tell that, following thee anear, To bear thee faithful company three ravens did appear.
The peoples seek thee out, where thou hast found thy place of rest, Where thou await'st the holy night, eve of the pious feast.
Like orphans destitute they mourn with hoarse and bitter plaint Bereft of thy sweet fellowship, thou gentle, perfect Saint.
When thou wert hither brought, behold! the rocks and thorns divide, And wonder-working fountains spring from the earth's parched side.
Surely the mount of Christ, is Lord o'er all the mountains round; And yet beneath thy feet it placed its top—twice-hallow'd ground.
For thee with head submiss it makes all its rough places plain That thou, O holy Saint of Christ, should'st herald forth His reign.
That they who seek thee, Benedict, should not grow faint and tire, Its gentle slope spreads out for those who upward do aspire.
'Tis meet that unto thee the mount itself this honour bring, Since with thy healing presence thou dost winter turn to spring.
Thou dost lay out its places dry with gardens fair to view; Thou coverest its sterile rocks with flowers of every hue.
The crags amazed bring forth their crops and harvests not their own, The greenwood trees bend down with fruits where once was arid stone.
Thus thou dost water hearts of men with healthful streams of prayer Bidding their vain and barren acts the fruit of grace to bear.
The Rule of Our Most Holy Father Saint Benedict So now, I pray thee, turn the thorns which rend thy Marcus' breast
To fruits unfading of good works, earnest of endless rest.