St. Benedict

Feast Day: July 11
Patron of: Students & Europe

Horrified by his classmates’ pursuit of pleasure in Rome, Benedict fled and eventually became a hermit. Word of his holiness spread so monks sought him out for his leadership. Being too strict for them, they attempted to poison him, but God protected
Benedict: 1. A cup of poisoned drink shattered when he blessed it. 2. He trained a raven to take poisoned bread to a place it wouldn’t cause anyone harm. Benedict was an innovator.  No one had ever set up religious communities or guided them with a rule before. “Ora et Labora” is the Benedictine motto and means pray and work. It now guides the entire Christian monastic practice.