St. Benedict of Nursia
St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-550 AD). Italian monk, founder of monasticism in the West. After living as a hermit and founding several monasteries, he and a group of followers settled at Monte Cassino, between Rome and Naples. Here he wrote the Rule, later known as the Benedictine Rule, which became the accepted monastic code of Western Europe. His feast day is 11 July. In 1964 he was proclaimed patron saint of Europe.
