In the dead of night he suddenly beheld a flood of light
shining down from above more brilliant than the sun, and...
the whole world was gathered up before his eyes
in what appeared to be a single ray of light.

The Life and Miracles of Saint Benedict by Pope St. Gregory the Great,
trans. by Odo J. Zimmermann, O.S.B. and Benedict R. Avery, O.S.B.,
St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, MN.


t. Benedict was born in 480 in the small Italian village of Norcia. He founded many monasteries, including the Abbey of Monte Cassino, and, along with his sister St. Scholastica, established a monastery for women. St. Benedict also wrote a Rule, or guide, for those seeking to dedicate their
lives to God, not as hermits, but as members of a community.

he Rule of St. Benedict, justly celebrated for its unerring spiritual wisdom and practical

genius, has been adopted by communities of men and women all over the world. Since the Rule lies at the heart of our spirituality, we have chosen quotations from it to introduce you to each key aspect of our life and to provide the context for understanding how St. Benedict's comprehensive, contemplative vision is incarnated at Regina Laudis.

All references to the Rule of St. Benedict are taken from the edition of Abbot Justin
McCann, monk of Ampleforth, reprinted in Great Britain, 1969.