ordersBenedictines

The Order of Saint Benedict is a monastic religious order of the Catholic Church. It traces its roots to Saint Benedict of Nursia, who established the first monastery at Monte Cassino around 529 AD. Benedictine monks and nuns follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, a set of principles for monastic life that emphasizes prayer, work, and community. The monastic ideal is summarized by the motto Ora et Labora, meaning "Pray and Work."

Benedictine monasticism spread throughout Europe in the early Middle Ages, playing a significant role in the development of Western civilization. Benedictine monks were instrumental in preserving classical learning, establishing schools, and evangelizing pagan populations. Over centuries, numerous Benedictine abbeys and priories were founded, each adhering to the Rule of Saint Benedict but often developing distinct traditions and observances.

The Order is not a centralized organization in the way some other religious orders are. Instead, it is a confederation of autonomous monastic communities, with each abbey or priory governed by its own abbot or abbess. There are various branches of Benedictines, including the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation, the Benedictine Confederation, and the Cistercians, who emerged from a reform movement within Benedictinism. Benedictine spirituality emphasizes lectio divina (divine reading), liturgical prayer, and a balanced life of manual labor and intellectual pursuit. Benedictines continue to serve the Church and society through prayer, hospitality, education, and charitable works.