The Wisdom of St. Benedict for Our Times

On July 11 we celebrate the Feast of St. Benedict, who is recognized as the patriarch of Western monasticism. Much like us, St. Benedict lived in deeply troubled times — an era of savage warfare, political corruption, and great disparities between the poor and wealthy, as well as floods, plagues, and famine. Fortunately, St. Benedict left us a guide in his Rule for how to respond to times of instability:

• He countered fear and disdain of the stranger through hospitality

• He countered disregard of the sick by placing care of the ill above all else

• He countered the inflated egos of those in power with the practice of humility

• He countered the privilege of wealth and status by assigning the rank of his monks based on the date they entered the monastery

• He countered pride by establishing a prayer schedule that kept his community focused on God and reminded them through the psalms that God is God and we are not

St. Benedict shows us that although we may feel powerless to counteract the attitudes and actions of the powerful and unscrupulous, we can choose to act as Jesus did by welcoming the stranger and outcasts, caring for the sick, practicing humility, recognizing the worth of all people, and keeping our pride in check by praying regularly. As we remember St. Benedict on his feast day, let us be grateful for his wisdom that still guides us today!