Benedictine

Benedictine refers to a member of the Order of Saint Benedict, or to the order itself, a Catholic monastic tradition following the Rule of Saint Benedict. The order was founded by Saint Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century, traditionally at Monte Cassino in Italy. Benedictines live under vows of stability, conversion of life, and obedience, and they structure their days around prayer and work.

Communities are typically autonomous houses for men or women, led by an abbot or abbess; monasteries may belong to congregations or to a broader Benedictine Confederation. The daily liturgy, the Divine Office, is central to their life; the Rule emphasizes hospitality, study, and self-sufficiency. Historically, Benedictines maintained libraries and scriptoria, contributing to the preservation and transmission of classical and religious texts.

The Benedictine tradition has had a lasting influence on medieval Europe through education, scholarship, agriculture, and the care of pilgrims. Monasteries often provided schooling, hospitability, and centers of learning during periods of social and political change, helping to sustain literacy and culture when other institutions faltered. The order is known for a capacity to adapt across eras while remaining rooted in its monastic roots.

The Benedictine habit is typically black, which has led to the popular designation of Benedictines as the Black Monks; communities may vary in customs and dress, but share the core Rule and liturgical rhythm.

There is also a herbal liqueur named Benedictine, produced in France and named after Benedictine monasteries; the liqueur is a distinct commercial product and not an official monastery, though its branding draws on Benedictine associations.