Benedict, St (c. 480–c. 547)

Founder of Christian monasticism in the West and of the Benedictine order. He founded the monastery of Monte Cassino and others in Italy. His feast day is 11 July.

Benedict was born in Nurcia in Umbria. He was sent to be educated in Rome, but fled from that city and spent three years in ascetic solitude. He founded 12 monasteries near Subiaco, and later migrated to Cassino. Here he wrote out his rule for monastic life and was visited shortly before his death by the Ostrogothic king Totila, whom he converted to the Christian faith.