Venerable Benedict, the founder of the Western Benedictine monastic order, was born in the Italian city of Nursia in the year 480. At the age of 14, the saint was sent by his parents to study in Rome, however, oppressed by the immorality surrounding him, he decided to devote himself to another life. At first, Saint Benedict settled at the church of St. Peter the Apostle in the village of Efedi, but the rumor of his ascetic life forced him to move further into the mountains. There he met the hermit Roman, who tonsured him into monasticism and showed him a remote cave to live in. From time to time, the hermit brought food to the saint. 
For three years in complete solitude, the saint waged a severe struggle against temptations and overcame them. Soon, people began to gather around him, eager to live under his leadership. The number of disciples grew so much that the saint divided them into twelve communities. Each community consisted of twelve monks and formed a separate hermitage. The monk gave each skete an abbot from his experienced students. For the sake of edification, only the novice monks remained with the monk. The strict rules laid down for monks by Saint Benedict were not to everyone's liking, and the monk more than once became a victim of slander and persecution.
Finally, he settled in Campagna and founded the Monte Cassino Monastery on Mount Cassino, which for a long time was the center of theological education for the Western Church. A wonderful library was created at the monastery. In this monastery, Venerable Benedict wrote a charter based on the experience of the Eastern hermits and the teachings of St. John Cassian the Roman (commemorated on February 29). The charter was subsequently adopted by many Western monasteries (it went through more than 100 editions until 1595). The charter prescribes absolute renunciation of property, unconditional obedience and constant work for monks. Senior monks are charged with teaching children and copying ancient manuscripts. This has helped preserve many written monuments dating back to the first centuries of Christianity. Each new entrant must remain a novice for a year in order to study the rules and get used to monastic life. A blessing is sought for every work. The head of the cenobitic monastery is the abbot, who has full authority. He judges, teaches, and admonishes. The abbot listens to the advice of older and experienced brothers, but makes the decision alone. The implementation of the charter is strictly obligatory for everyone and is considered as an important step closer to perfection.
Saint Benedict was honored by the Lord with the gift of epiphany and miracle-working. He healed many with his prayers. The monk predicted his demise in advance. St. Benedict's sister, Saint Scholastica, also became famous for her strict ascetic life and was canonized.