Saint Benedict, was an Italian monk, writer, and theologian, born in Nursia (modern day Norcia) in Umbria on 2 March 480. He was sent to Rome to study, but was disappointed by academic life within a large city and escaped to Enfide (modern day Affile), in the Simbruini mountains, some 65km east of Rome. Here Benedict met a monk who’s isolated monastery was situated on a mountainside above the village, and who invited Benedict to take the monk's habit and become a hermit, which Benedict did, for three years. During these three years of solitude, broken only by occasional communications with the outside world, Benedict grew in mind and character, in knowledge of himself and of his fellow man, while at the same time becoming not only known to, but respected by, those around him. He went on to found 12 monasteries in the vicinity of neighbouring town, Subiaco, before moving south-east to Monte Cassino. At Monte Cassino he produced his life’s greatest work, the Rule of St Benedict, which consisted of a set of rules for his monks to follow. The Rule is said to possess a unique spirit of balance, moderation and reasonableness, which was why most religious communities founded in the Middle Ages chose to adopt it. To this day, the Rule of St Benedict remains the most common and influential Rule used by monastic order, some 1500 years after its writing. Benedict died of a fever at Monte Cassino on 21 March 547. He was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and in 1980 Pope John Paul II declared him to be co-patron of Europe, together with Saints Cyril and Methodius. Here in Spain, on the island of Tenerife, Benedict is regarded as the patron saint of fields & farmers and an annual romeria is held in his honour.The picture of St Benedict above is part of a depiction in the Benedetto Portinari Triptych, by Hans Memling - Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12211505
Starting this September, St George's is offering the multimedia course, Walking Together in Faith, to members of our congregations and others who might be interested. This is a course which covers the core themes of the Christian faith. If you are new to the faith, or struggling with parts of it, or simply looking for a refresher, this course is for you. The course is free and online, and consists of four modules, each with five units, which run consecutively over a 12-month period, beginning 9th September. There is a new unit every fortnight and each unit runs for 90 minutes.Interested in signing up or want to know more? Click here.
Fr Louis has recommended we read the book, ‘Humbler Faith, Bigger God’ by Rev Dr Samuel Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the- Fields. Is Christianity just a fairy tale for the infantile? Or worse, a cruel fantasy - the perpetrator of terrible harm and the cause of endless conflict? Or at most, one path among many? Such questions reflect the scepticism of outsiders and the doubts of insiders - some perennial, some underscored by recent events and movements. The answer to these objections isn’t a louder faith to shout them down - it’s a humbler faith that points to a bigger God. Samuel Wells shows the way through his generous, respectful, and earnest engagement with ten difficult questions about Christianity. In each case he portrays the traditional position and the scepticism of the modern age as two rival stories. Transcending both, he then offers a revitalised Christian story that better renders the radical, courageous, and vulnerable nature of authentic faith. Sam is unwaveringly honest about the failures of the institutional church and acknowledges many people’s negative prior experiences of Christianity - making this a book for both Christians and non-Christians who have found the stories of their lives disrupted and now seek a fulfilling and truthful story to live by.Sam Wells has been Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London since 2012. He has served as a parish priest for 25 years – 10 of those in urban priority areas. He also spent 7 years in North Carolina, where he was Dean of Duke University Chapel. Sam’s book is available from Amazon here.
