This great saint is one of the Benedictines on the list. He is overlooked by many, who may not even realize his contributions to the Church. He lived in amazing times and counselled more than one pope. Notice his cardinal's robes lying on the floor in this painting, as he was humble about his office. His dates are 1007-1072. That the man was brilliant may be seen in his biography on several sites. Many of his works which use to be on line years ago, have been taken off, by the revamping of certain websites. This is sad, indeed, and a warning at taking for granted what is on line.
I present selections from his writings on the link found here in the next few posts. I start with one.
His point here is that it is not merely the choice of life, or the vocation of a person which causes perfection, but the cooperation of grace therein....
For it was certainly not that holy and humble man St. Benedict who, at the very beginning of his
work, sat himself in the master's seat and usurped the place
of the loving Father: 'Hearken, O my son, to the precepts of
thy Master, and incline the ear of thine heart; willingly receive
the admonition of thy loving Father.' 1 Rather, the Holy
Spirit made his servant the instrument of his voice, just as he
did at the beginning of the books of prophecy, when he cried,
through Isaias: 1 have nourished and brought up children." 2
Let us see, then, to whom he directs what he has to say, for
what sort of man all that follows is written. He says: 'To thee,
therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever thou art that,
renouncing thine own will, dost take up the strong and bright
weapons of obedience, in order to fight for the Lord Christ,
our true king.' 3 As far as we can gather from the words of the
holy man, the school of the holy Rule was established more
for the learning of obedience than for the performance of
penance. This is not to say that it excludes either the sinner or
the just man, or rejects any sort of person; but rather that its
whole strength and purpose lies in the teaching of the rules of
obedience.
I know that in writing in this way I am displeasing some of
the brethren, namely those who believe that a turning to our
way of life brings about both the absolution of our offences
and the perfection of virtue. I hope it may be enough if I reply
that in setting forth my opinions I have no desire to cast a
snare upon any man, -as the Apostle says, 4 but rather wish to
urge you on towards the good.
