Mary Fabyan Windeatt - Saint Benedict: The Story of the Father of the Western Monks (with Supplemental Reading: Confession: Its Fruitful Practice)

A Series of Twenty Books
Stories of the Saints for Young People ages 10 to 100

THE CHILDREN OF FATIMA

And Our Ladys Message to the World

THE CUR OF ARS

The Story of St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Parish Priests

THE LITTLE FLOWER

The Story of St. Therese of the Child Jesus

PATRON SAINT OF FIRST COMMUNICANTS

The Story of Blessed Imelda Lambertini

THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

The Story of Our Ladys Appearances to St. Catherine Labour

ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT

The Story of Our Ladys Slave, St. Louis Mary Grignion De Montfort

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS

The Story of The Dumb Ox

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA

The Story of the Girl Who Saw Saints in the Sky

SAINT HYACINTH OF POLAND

The Story of the Apostle of the North

SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES

The Story of the Little Doctor of Lima, Peru

SAINT ROSE OF LIMA

The Story of the First Canonized Saint of the Americas

PAULINE JARICOT

Foundress of the Living Rosary & The Society for the Propagation of the Faith

SAINT DOMINIC

Preacher of the Rosary and Founder of the Dominican Order

SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE

The Story of the Apostle to the Gentiles

SAINT BENEDICT

The Story of the Father of the Western Monks

KING DAVID AND HIS SONGS

A Story of the Psalms

SAINT MARGARET MARY

And the Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

SAINT JOHN MASIAS

Marvelous Dominican Gatekeeper of Lima, Peru

SAINT FRANCIS SOLANO

Wonder-Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru

BLESSED MARIE OF NEW FRANCE

The Story of the First Missionary Sisters in Canada

Nihil Obstat: Arthur J. Scanlan, S.T.D.
Censor Librorum

Imprimatur: Francis J. Spellman, D.D.
Archbishop of New York
New York
August 5, 1943

Copyright 1943 by Sheed & Ward, Inc., New York. Copyright renewed in 1970 by Mary Fabyan Windeatt. First published in 1943, by Sheed & Ward, under the title Hero of the Hills: The Story of Saint Benedict.

The type in this book is the property of TAN Books, an Imprint of Saint Benedict Press, LLC, and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the Publisher.

ISBN: 978-0-89555-427-7

Library of Congress Catalog Card No.: 93-61378

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

TAN Books
Charlotte, North Carolina
2012

For
Reverend Benedict Brown, O.S.B.,
Pastor of St. Marys Church,
Huntingburg, Indiana.

The author wishes to thank the Reverend Paschal Boland, O.S.B., of St. Meinrads Abbey, St. Meinrad, Indiana, and Sister M. Therese, O.S.B., of the Academy of the Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, Indiana, for their valuable aid in preparing this story of Saint Benedict.

ST. MAURUS ST. BENEDICT ST. PLACID

C YRILLA was worried. Young Master Benedict, whose parents had sent him to study in the schools of Rome, was losing interest in his work. Only last night he had said that he didnt want to be a leader in law or politics. He only wanted to be a hermit in a cave.

The foolish boy! thought Cyrilla, as she set about getting supper for Benedict and herself. If he really wants to lead a holy life, why cant he enter a monastery? There are plenty of them here in Rome.

Cyrilla sat down before the open fireplace and scowled at a kettle of water that was almost ready to boil. She was a woman in her middle fifties, short and plump, with her dark hair already streaked with grey. For many years she had been with Benedicts family. First it had been just as a simple maid. Later, when Benedict and his twin sister were born, she had been chosen to be their nurse.

I was happy then, she thought. I liked living in that little town of Nursia. But here in Rome things are so different. So much noise and dirt!

There was a sudden sound of footsteps outside. The door opened and Cyrilla looked up. Young Master Benedict stood on the threshold. Eagerly, she scanned his face.

Well? she asked hopefully, but her heart sank even as she spoke. There was the same light in the boys dark eyes. It was easy to see that he had not given up the idea of being a hermit.

I told the schoolmaster I wouldnt be coming back any more. Please dont be cross, Cyrilla. There wasnt anything else I could do.

The woman got to her feet. But Master Benedict! Your fathers going to be so angry if you dont finish your education! After all, hes made so many fine plans. Why cant you wait until youre older before taking any such step as this?

Benedict smiled. Im seventeen, he said gently. Boys that age are old enough to go to war. Even to marry. But I I just want to serve God. Surely you can understand that?

The woman shook her head wearily. Ill be blamed for all this, she murmured. Just wait and see. Your father sent me here to Rome to be your housekeeper. What will he say when he hears Ive let you run away from school? Ah, Master Benedict, youre going to break my heart!

There was no doubt about the way Cyrilla felt. Benedict looked at her uneasily. He didnt want to hurt anyone, much less this kindly woman who had been his nurse since childhood. Yet what could he do? Rome, the great city where so many people spent their days trying to be rich and powerful, was not to his liking. He himself longed for the quiet of the countryside, for some small cave where he could spend his days in prayer.

Dont worry, he said kindly. Ive heard that a hermits life is really very healthy. Lots of fresh air, sunshine, simple food

And cold winds, rain and snow! Master Benedict, you know youre not used to such things. Why, youd die of the hardship within a month!

Not unless it was the Will of God, Cyrilla. Remember how He looks after everyone on this earth, even the birds and the flowers in the fields?

Cyrilla sniffed. If youre going off to be a hermit, it wont be by yourself, she declared. Ill go with you and see that you dont starve to death.

The boy laughed. But a hermit has to live alone, Cyrrilla, even if it is hard! Thats the whole point to the life. A hermit cuts himself off from the world, from friends and all the usual comforts, so he can belong more wholly to God.

The kettle was boiling furiously now. Cyrilla went over and removed it from the fire. Youre going to be a different kind of hermit, she said firmly. Youre going to have someone to cook your meals and mend your clothes.

It was a few days later that Benedict and Cyrilla left Rome and headed eastward into the hill country. They had no real destination, save that the boy still had his mind set on living in a cave. When they had gone far enough, he said, they would surely come across some such place.

I still think its a foolish idea, going off like this into the wilderness, muttered Cyrilla. How do you know there arent wild beasts in these woods? Or even thieves and murderers?