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42-517: Sometime after 963 Bishop Æthelwold re-founded the monastery and re-endowed it, imposing the stricter Benedictine rule . According to Æthelwold's hagiographer, Wulfstan the Cantor , Æthelwold made a woman called Æthelthryth abbess of the Nunnaminster. Æthelwold may also have translated the relics of Edburga, now recognized as a saint, to a more prominent shrine within the Nunnaminster; however, this event

84-455: A chant, three antiphons, three psalms, and three lessons, along with celebrations of any local saints' days. Afterwards the monks would retire for a few hours of sleep and then rise at 6am to wash and attend the office of Prime . They then gathered in Chapter to receive instructions for the day and to attend to any judicial business. Then came private Mass or spiritual reading or work until 9am when

126-614: A thousand years while the Congregations to which they belong are more recent. This balance between autonomy and belonging is one of the distinguishing features of the Benedictine Confederation, and brings with it both strengths and weaknesses. One immediate consequence is that there is often great diversity of observance even between houses of the same Congregation: in liturgy, timetable, pastoral involvement and habit. The present Confederation of Congregations of Monasteries of

168-674: Is only attested in Osbert of Clare's much later Vita S. Edburgae . The house stood between High Street and Colebroke Street and was known as Nunnaminster . According to the Domesday Book the abbess held Lyss , Froyle , Leckford Abbess , Long Stoke , Timsbury , and Ovington in Hampshire ; Coleshill in Berkshire ; and Urchfont and All Cannings in Wiltshire . The Nunnery was rebuilt again after

210-532: Is sometimes regarded as the founder of Western monasticism due to the reforming influence that his rules had on the then-current Catholic hierarchy. There is, however, no evidence to suggest that Benedict intended to found a religious order in the modern sense, and it was not until the Late Middle Ages that mention was made of an " Order of Saint Benedict ". His Rule was written as a guide for individual, autonomous communities, and all Benedictine Houses (and

252-463: Is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict . The Benedictine Confederation is a union of monastic congregations that nevertheless retain their own autonomy, established by Pope Leo XIII in his brief "Summum semper" (12 July 1893), subsequently approved by his successors. Pope Pius XII explicitly ordered this union to be regulated by a "Lex Propria", which was later revised after

294-623: The Abbey of Santa Giustina , founded in Padua in 1408 by Dom Ludovico Barbo . The Benedictines suffered badly in the anti-clerical atmosphere at the time of Napoleon and the modern Congregations were mostly founded in the 19th century when monasticism was revived. The majority are essentially national groupings, although the Subiaco Congregation (originally the Cassinese Congregation of

336-725: The Abbot Primate , who serves a four-year term as the Confederation's representative and administrative head, although without direct jurisdiction over the individual Congregations. The Confederation has its headquarters at Sant'Anselmo, which is the seat of the Abbot Primate and hosts the quadrennial Congress of Abbots. Sant'Anselmo is also home to the Benedictine Pontifical Athenaeum , the Collegio Sant'Anselmo , and

378-659: The Cistercians , the Trappists (a reform of the Cistercians), and the Sylvestrines . Charlemagne had Benedict's Rule copied and distributed to encourage monks throughout western Europe to follow it as a standard. Beyond its religious influences, the Rule of St Benedict was one of the most important written works to shape medieval Europe , embodying the ideas of a written constitution and

420-697: The Dissolution of the Monasteries in November 1539, with pensions granted to the abbess , prioress and nuns . Considerable remains of the buildings survived into the seventeenth century, but only certain watercourses survive into the present. Benedictine rule The Rule of Saint Benedict ( Latin : Regula Sancti Benedicti ) is a book of precepts written in Latin c.  530 by St. Benedict of Nursia (c. AD 480–550) for monks living communally under

462-695: The Second Vatican Council . Most Benedictine houses are loosely affiliated in 19 national or supra-national congregations. Each of these congregations elects its own abbot president. These presidents meet annually in the Synod of Presidents. Additionally, there is a meeting every four years of the Congress of Abbots, which is made up of all abbots and conventual priors, both of monasteries that are members of congregations, as well as of those unaffiliated with any particular congregation. The Congress of Abbots elects

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504-413: The passion of Christ that [they] may deserve also to share in his Kingdom" (Prol. 50, passionibus Christi per patientiam participemur, ut et regno eius mereamur esse consortes ; note: Latin passionibus and patientiam have the same root, cf. Fry, RB 1980, p.167). Saint Benedict's model for the monastic life was the family , with the abbot as father and all the monks as brothers. Priesthood

546-554: The " Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm " ( Italian : Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo ), the Church of Sant'Anselmo ( Italian : Chiesa Sant'Anselmo ), and serves as the curial headquarters of the Confederation ( Italian : Badia Sant'Anselmo ). The ecclesiastical residential College of Sant'Anselmo is juridically considered the successor of the homonymous college of the Cassinese Benedictine Congregation which

588-470: The "Church of Sant'Anselmo". Communities of Benedictine nuns and Religious Sisters are joined in 61 congregations and federations that are associated with the Confederation, although they do not have full membership. In November 2001 after a consultation process with all monasteries of Benedictine women around the world, it was decided to use the name Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB) to designate all communities of Benedictine women recognized by

630-627: The Abbot Primate as such and listed in the Catalogus Monasteriorum O.S.B . The first attempt to group Benedictine monasteries into national Congregations was at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215. Only the English Benedictine Congregation survives from this early attempt at centralization, and in historical reality even this Congregation is a 17th-century foundation although it was given juridical continuity with

672-587: The Benedictine confederation and its subdivisions, independence and autonomy among communities are uniquely valued; too highly for Pope Pius XI , who complained that the largely nominal confederation was "an order without order". The basic unit has always been the individual abbey, rather than the Congregation. This explains why some houses (e.g. Monte Cassino, Subiaco, Saint Paul-outside-the-Walls (Rome), Montserrat and Pannonhalma) have unbroken histories of more than

714-646: The Confederation only in the mid-20th century). The number of houses, monks, and priests is that found in the 2019 edition of the Annuario Pontificio . Sant'Anselmo on the Aventine ( Italian : Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino ) is complex located on the Aventine Hill in Rome 's Ripa rione and overseen by the Confederation. The complex comprises the " College of Sant'Anselmo " ( Italian : Collegio Sant'Anselmo ),

756-421: The Congregations in which they have grouped themselves) still remain self-governing. Advantages seen in retaining this unique Benedictine emphasis on autonomy include cultivating models of tightly bonded communities and contemplative lifestyles. Perceived disadvantages comprise geographical isolation from important activities in adjacent communities. Other perceived losses include inefficiency and lack of mobility in

798-467: The Norman conquest, perhaps by AD 1100, by which time it was known as St Mary's Abbey. During The Anarchy the monastery was burnt in the great fire of Winchester in 1141. The house became impoverished during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, but thanks to various grants and concessions it recovered its position and was in a healthy state at the time of the suppression. The house was suppressed as part of

840-650: The Order of Saint Benedict, officially, the "Benedictine Confederation" of monks, consists of the following congregations in the order given in the Catalogus Monasteriorum OSB (dates are those of the foundation of the congregations – Primacy of honour is given to the Cassinese Congregation, though the English Congregation is the oldest, because Monte Cassino was the original Abbey of St. Benedict himself. The older Camaldolese and Sylvestrine congregations joined

882-636: The Pontifical Institute of Liturgy. It grants certificates and diplomas in various subjects, as well as Bachelor, Licentiate, and Doctoral degrees. Originally the university exclusively served only Benedictines , but now is open to external students. The present Rector of the Athenaeum is Rev. Bernhard A. Eckerstorfer, O.S.B. The church which was consecrated on November 11, 1900, and is constructed of three naves, divided by granite columns , and includes one main altar and two side altars. A large section on

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924-587: The Primitive Observance) has from the first been truly international because of its interest in foreign mission. Since the time of the Reformation , there have been independent Benedictine communities in the Protestant (especially Anglican ) traditions which maintain official friendly relations with the Benedictine Confederation, although they are not formally linked with it or its congregations. Throughout

966-457: The applicability of the principles and spirit of the Rule of Saint Benedict to the secular working environment. During the more than 1500 years of their existence, Benedictines have seen cycles of flourish and decline. Several reform movements sought more intense devotion to both the letter and spirit of the Rule of St Benedict, at least as they understood it. Examples include the Camaldolese ,

1008-484: The authority of an abbot . The spirit of Saint Benedict's Rule is summed up in the motto of the Benedictine Confederation : pax ("peace") and the traditional ora et labora ("pray and work"). Compared to other precepts, the Rule provides a moderate path between individual zeal and formulaic institutionalism; because of this middle ground, it has been widely popular. Benedict's concerns were his views of

1050-615: The college is Rev. Mauritius Wilde , O.S.B. The Anselmianum , also known as the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm ( Italian : Pontificio Ateneo Sant'Anselmo ; Latin : Pontificium Athenaeum Anselmianum ), is the pontifical university in Rome associated with the Benedictines . The institution includes faculties of Philosophy, Theology (Sacramental Theology, Monastic Studies), the Institute of Historical Theology, as well as

1092-541: The cycle again. In modern times, this timetable is often changed to accommodate any apostolate outside the monastic enclosure (e.g. the running of a school or parish). Many Benedictine Houses have a number of Oblates (secular) who are affiliated with them in prayer, having made a formal private promise (usually renewed annually) to follow the Rule of St Benedict in their private life as closely as their individual circumstances and prior commitments permit. In recent years discussions have occasionally been held concerning

1134-581: The daily life of the Benedictine revolved around the eight canonical hours. The monastic timetable, or Horarium , would begin at midnight with the service, or "office", of Matins (today also called the Office of Readings), followed by the morning office of Lauds at 3 am. Before the advent of wax candles in the 14th century, this office was said in the dark or with minimal lighting; and monks were expected to memorise everything. These services could be very long, sometimes lasting till dawn, but usually consisted of

1176-515: The east and west ends near the apse includes the traditional stalls for the monastic choir. The church serves as a place of worship for the Benedictine residential college community and the students of the Athenaeum. It is also known, especially to the Romans, for the performances of Gregorian chant offered by the monks during the Sunday liturgical celebrations of Vespers . Since 1962, the church has also been

1218-620: The inspiration of Saint Anthony the Great (251–356), ascetic monks led by Saint Pachomius (286–346) formed the first Christian monastic communities under what became known as an Abbot , from the Aramaic abba (father). Within a generation, both solitary as well as communal monasticism became very popular and spread outside of Egypt, first to Palestine and the Judean Desert and thence to Syria and North Africa . Saint Basil of Caesarea codified

1260-494: The main principles of the religious life, viz. : the renunciation of one's own will and arming oneself "with the strong and noble weapons of obedience " under the banner of " the true King , Christ the Lord" (Prol. 3). He proposes to establish a "school for the Lord's service" (Prol. 45) in which the "way to salvation" (Prol. 48) shall be taught, so that by persevering in the monastery till death his disciples may "through patience share in

1302-471: The medieval English Congregation by the papal bull "Plantata" of 1633. Primacy of honor is given to the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation , since this Congregation includes the Abbey of Monte Cassino , where St Benedict wrote his Rule and was buried (although Fleury Abbey also claims to house the remains of the founder). Founded in 1872, the Congregation has its origin in the Congregation of

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1344-413: The monastic day into regular periods of communal and private prayer , sleep, spiritual reading, and manual labour – ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus , "that in all [things] God may be glorified" ( cf. Rule ch. 57.9). In later centuries, intellectual work and teaching took the place of farming, crafts, or other forms of manual labour for many – if not most – Benedictines . Traditionally,

1386-440: The needs of monks in a community environment: namely, to establish due order, to foster an understanding of the relational nature of human beings, and to provide a spiritual father to support and strengthen the individual's ascetic effort and the spiritual growth that is required for the fulfillment of the human vocation, theosis . The Rule of Saint Benedict has been used by Benedictines for 15 centuries, and thus St. Benedict

1428-411: The office of Terce was said, and then High Mass. At noon came the office of Sext and the midday meal. After a brief period of communal recreation, the monk could retire to rest until the office of None at 3pm. This was followed by farming and housekeeping work until after twilight, the evening prayer of Vespers at 6pm, then the night prayer of Compline at 9pm, and retiring to bed, before beginning

1470-512: The precepts for these eastern monasteries in his Ascetic Rule, or Ascetica , which is still used today in the Eastern Orthodox Church . In the West in about the year 500, Benedict became so upset by the immorality of society in Rome that he gave up his studies there, at age fourteen, and chose the life of an ascetic monk in the pursuit of personal holiness, living as a hermit in a cave near

1512-571: The religious community only making minor changes more in line with the time period relevant to his system. The Rule was translated into Armenian by Nerses of Lampron in the 10th century and is used by the Armenian Catholic Mekhitarists today. It was also translated into Old English by Æthelwold . The Rule opens with a hortatory preface, drawing on the Admonitio ad filium spiritualem , in which Saint Benedict sets forth

1554-399: The rugged region of Subiaco . In time, setting an example with his zeal, he began to attract disciples. After considerable initial struggles with his first community at Subiaco, he eventually founded the monastery of Monte Cassino in 529, where he wrote his Rule near the end of his life. In chapter 73, Saint Benedict commends the Rule of Saint Basil and alludes to further authorities. He

1596-439: The rule of law. It also incorporated a degree of democracy in a non-democratic society, and dignified manual labor . Although not stated explicitly in the rule, the motto Ora et labora is widely considered to be a shortform capturing the spirit of the rule. Notes Benedictine Confederation The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict ( Latin : Confœderatio Benedictina Ordinis Sancti Benedicti )

1638-618: The service of others, and insufficient appeal to potential members. These different emphases emerged within the framework of the Rule in the course of history and are to some extent present within the Benedictine Confederation and the Cistercian Orders of the Common and the Strict Observance . Christian monasticism first appeared in the Egyptian desert, before Benedict of Nursia . Under

1680-569: Was founded in 1687. The present college was reestablished in 1887 and moved to the newly constructed "Sant'Anselmo" on the Aventine Hill in 1896. Today the residential college houses an average of one hundred Benedictine monks from about forty countries, as well as other religious, diocesan priests, and lay people. As a house of formation, it offers a monastic environment for those who study at the onsite Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm or at other Roman pontifical universities. The present Rector of

1722-463: Was not initially an important part of Benedictine monasticism – monks used the services of their local priest. Because of this, almost all the Rule is applicable to communities of women under the authority of an abbess . This appeal to multiple groups would later make the Rule of Saint Benedict an integral set of guidelines for the development of the Christian faith. Saint Benedict's Rule organises

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1764-609: Was probably aware of the Rule written by Pachomius (or attributed to him), and his Rule also shows influence by the Rule of St Augustine of Hippo and the writings of Saint John Cassian . Benedict's greatest debt, however, may be to the anonymous document known as the Rule of the Master , which Benedict seems to have radically excised, expanded, revised and corrected in the light of his own considerable experience and insight. Saint Benedict's work expounded upon preconceived ideas that were present in

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