00:00Ora et labora, pray and work.
00:07This is the motto inherited from Saint Benedict of Nurcy, father of Western monasticism.
00:12Benedict was born around 480 in Nurcy, in central Italy.
00:17Born into a noble family, he was sent to Rome for his studies, but he quickly fled the decadence.
00:24He chooses silence, the mountains, prayer.
00:27He first retired to a cave near Subiaco.
00:31He lives there as a hermit, in poverty, solitude, and contemplation.
00:36Disciples join him.
00:38He founded several small monasteries, then a larger one, Monte Cassino, south of Rome.
00:45It was there that he wrote the Rule of Saint Benedict.
00:48A masterpiece of balance between spiritual life and daily work.
00:52No excess, no extreme trials, just a simple life, based on prayer, work, listening, humility.
01:02He died around 547, surrounded by his brothers, standing, arms raised to the sky.
01:09His work shaped medieval Europe.
01:12Hundreds of abbeys were born, bringing the Gospel, knowledge and peace throughout the continent.
01:20He was proclaimed patron saint of Europe by Paul Sest in 1964.
01:26It is also invoked against fevers, temptations, poisons and curses.
01:32Even today, the Benedictines live, according to his rule, in a spirit of peace, welcome and stability.
01:42Saint Benedict, father of monks and guide of the Christian West,
01:47teach us to pray, to work, to love God in silence.
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