St. Benedict - Bloomfield, CT
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 41° 48.738 W 072° 41.676
18T E 691493 N 4631505
A statue of St. Benedict is located at the main entrance to Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, CT.
Waymark Code: WMRVC4
Location: Connecticut, United States
Date Posted: 08/07/2016
Views: 1
A life size bronze statue of St. Benedict depicts the saint wearing a hooded robe. He is looking down towards an open book he is holding in his right hand. He holds a crucifix in his left hand. He stands on a platform in front of a large cross. The front of the platform is inscribed:
ST. BENEDICT
PATRIARCH OF THE
MONKS OF THE WEST
FOUNDER OF THE GREAT
BENEDICTINE ORDER
Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy into a noble family about 480 AD. As a young man he abandoned his education to live a life away from the city. With his nurse as a servant he settled in a remote location east of Rome. He then founded 12 monastic communities at Subiaco, Italy before moving on to Monte Cassino where he established the present day Order of St. Benedict.
Benedict is best known for writing the "Rule of Saint Benedict", a set of rules, in 73 short chapters, governing the religious life of monks. These rules set the standard for monks throughout western Europe to follow. As a a written constitution, the Rule of St. Benedict shaped medieval Europe. They incorporated some elements of democracy in a world ruled by royalty and established respect for manual labor. Benedict is the considered to be the father of western monasticism.
Benedict died of fever at Monte Cassino March 543 or 547. He was canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1220. St. Benedict was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964. He is also the patron saint of students.