Benedectine Monasteries of Subiaco , clic sull'icona benedettina per tornare alla home
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The region around Subiaco was probably first inhabited during the time of Nero in the area today called Pianigliu. When St. Benedict arrived the people were already Christian.
It is likely that the local church was dedicated to St. Lorenzo and that the pastor, who plays such a sad part in the story of our saint, was named Fiorenzo. Monastic life was known in this area. St Gregory speaks of a community near Subiaco that once invited Benedict to join them as their superior. St. Gregory also mentions a monastery very near the grotto that was governed by Adeodatus and of which the monk Romanus was a member. Benedict was born in the territory of Norcia around 480 to well-off parents.
We know that he had a sister named Scholastica who was consecrated to God at a young age. Upon completion of his preliminary education in his hometown Benedict went to Rome for those studies that would correspond to our university studies. He did not remain at Rome for long, however.
Horrified by the decadence at Rome he took refuge along with his nursemaid at Affile. Then, after just a short time at Affile, desirous of more solitude, Benedict left his nurse and made his way toward the villa of Nero. It is possible that the he had heard of Adeodatus' monastery. In any case, going up Mt. Taleo, on the right bank of the Aniene, the young Benedict met the monk Romanus who directed him to the barren grotto beneath his monastery. St. Benedict remained in the grotto for 3 years known only to God and Romanus who, with a long rope, sent down whatever nourishment he could to the young hermit from the edge of the cliff above.
In spite of Romanus' discrete assistance, life in the grotto was pretty tough. There were certainly periods of discouragement and temptation. In fact, once, such a strong impure temptation tormented him that Benedict nearly left the grotto. However, with sure Christian resoluteness, he threw himself naked into a wild thorn bush and thus overcame the temptation. One Easter Benedict received a visit form a priest who had been miraculously informed of the whereabouts of the young hermit. Afterwards he was discovered by some shepherds whose rough edges he tried to smooth out a bit. Some monks from the area pleaded with him to join them as their superior.
Their continuous insisting convinced him, but, finding Benedict too severe, they tried to poison him. Benedict decided to return to the grotto, but by now his fame had grown and disciples were coming from every direction. The saint established himself and his followers on the higher bank of the Neronian Lake using a building from the imperial villa that was still in good condition.
This first monastery was called St. Clement. St. Benedict lived here for more than 20 years. Here he began and perfected, little by little, the monastic life that he presents in his Rule, the first draft of which goes back to these years spent in the Subiaco cenobitic community near the Neronian lake. Followers of every age, nationality and walk of life came to Benedict so that he formed 12 monasteries each with 12 monks.
When his residence at Subiaco came to an end there was the Motherhouse, a rather large monastery with 12 smaller monasteries dependent on Benedict and all were situated near the valley of the Anio that, from the Neronian Valley, had become known as the Holy Valley. St. Benedict, however was not to finish out his life at Subiaco. The rancorous and unscrupulous envy of Fiorenzo forced him to move elsewhere.
Benedict set a superior over each independent monastery and with just a few followers he headed for Cassino around the year 529. He lived at Cassino for about 18 years where he worked to convert the people of the surrounding area who were still pagans. Here, on the mountaintop, he built the monastery that was to be so well known for ages to come and wrote the final version of his Rule. St. Benedict died on March 21, probably in the year 547.