Saints
B

Saint · Early medieval

Saint Benedict of Nursia

Period
c. 480 – c. 547
Feast days
11 July · 21 March · 14 March
Associated region
Nursia, Subiaco and Monte Cassino, Italy

Abbot of Monte Cassino whose Rule shaped Western monastic life.

Key timeline

View full timeline (4)
  1. c. 529Traditional

    Monte Cassino

    Traditional date of the foundation.

  2. 6th century

    The Rule written

  3. c. 593–594

    Gregory’s Dialogues

    The main source for his life.

Gregory tells of Benedict’s withdrawal to a cave at Subiaco, the founding of monasteries and his move to Monte Cassino. His Rule, balancing prayer and work under an abbot, became the standard for Western monasticism.

Principal written sources

  • The Rule of Saint Benedict
  • Gregory the Great, Dialogues, Book II

Full timeline

  1. c. 529Traditional

    Monte Cassino

    Traditional date of the foundation.

  2. 6th century

    The Rule written

  3. c. 593–594

    Gregory’s Dialogues

    The main source for his life.

  4. 1964

    Patron of Europe

Pope Paul VI named him a patron of Europe in 1964.

Feast days
  • 11 July — Roman calendar since 1969
  • 21 March — Traditional date of his death; older calendars
  • 14 March — Byzantine calendar
Venerated in (starting dataset)
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican.
Patronage and roles (starting dataset)
Europe, Monks, Speleologists
Places
Nursia · Subiaco · Monte Cassino

Accounts in the starting dataset

The source workbook lists these under “Confirmed Miracle / Key Event”. The Atlas does not treat them as confirmed: each is labelled by the kind of evidence behind it.

  • TraditionalHagiography

    “Poisoned wine glass shattering when making the Sign of the Cross”

    Gregory the Great, Dialogues II.

  • TraditionalHagiography

    “Disciple St. Maurus walking on water at Benedict's command to save drowning boy”

    Gregory the Great, Dialogues II.

About the image · Editorial design

Editorial initial. No likeness of Benedict survives.

Editorial status

Editorial draft. Built from the starting workbook with editorial corrections and framing. It has not yet been checked against independent sources.

References

  • Workbook linkNot yet checked

    britannica.com

    Link supplied in the source workbook (“Top 100 Saints”, row 36). It has not been checked to confirm that it supports every claim in that row.

Original workbook record

Imported unchanged from “Top 100 Saints”, row 36. Values here are the starting dataset, not verified facts; where the Atlas differs, the reason is noted below.

#
28
Saint / Title
Saint Benedict of Nursia
Primary Traditions Veneration
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican
Feast Day(s)
July 11 / March 21
Era / Lived
480 – 548 AD
Origin / Region
Nursia / Monte Cassino, Italy
Patronage & Major Roles
Europe, Monks, Speleologists
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1
Poisoned wine glass shattering when making the Sign of the Cross
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2
Disciple St. Maurus walking on water at Benedict's command to save drowning boy
Key Contribution / Historical Significance
Father of Western Monasticism; authored Rule of Saint Benedict ('Ora et Labora').
Reference Link
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Benedict-of-Nursia

Editorial notes on this record

  • Era / Lived: 480–548 are traditional; death usually c. 547.