27. BITESIZE CATECHISM: ST. BENEDICT - SPIRITUAL BATTLE

APPETIZER: By our first parents' original sin, the devil has acquired a certain domination over humanity, even though the human person remains free. Original sin entails "captivity under the power of him who thenceforth had the power of death, that is, the devil".  The consequences of original sin and of all human being's personal sins put the world as a whole in the sinful condition aptly described in St. John's Gospel as, "the sin of the world". This expression can also refer to the negative influence exerted on people by communal situations and social structures that are the fruit of men's sins. This dramatic situation of "the whole world being in the power of the evil one" makes human life a battle:  The whole of human history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding themselves in the midst of the battlefield human beings struggle to do what is right, but with great determination and aided by the power of God's grace, people can succeed in achieving inner integrity. (CCC #407-409)

MAIN COURSE: When it comes to spiritual battle, the human struggle over evil, over personal and social sin, over the dark influence and temptations of the Evil One (who really does exist) one saint especially stands out as model and intercessor: St. Benedict of Nursia. Proof of his popularity can be seen in the fact that the Cross (or Medal) of St. Benedict is consistently among the top sellers of religious items among the Catholic people. Before we learn why this is so let's take a brief look at his life.

Few people realize that if it weren't for St. Benedict, western culture as we have come to know it would be a very different. We would not have the information passed on to us in some of the greatest books of ancient authors and history. We would be lacking many works of art and music. We would not have accuracy in the Sacred Scriptures which Benedict's monks copied carefully by hand. The reason why these cultural treasures have been preserved is that it was the monks and nuns of St. Benedict's religious family who protected, copied and preserved all of these things through the Dark Ages and in times of war and destruction in Europe.  

Benedict was born in Nursia, a town of northern Italy around 480 AD. He had a twin sister named Scholastica who would join him later in life to help establish monasteries for nuns as he did for monks. When he was a teenager his wealthy parents sent him to Rome for further education.  He did very well in his studies but he became disgusted with the ever-increasing immorality of Roman society.  To escape the filth and corruption of the culture, Benedict left the city and went into the hills where he spent a couple of years living as a hermit in  a cave and enjoying the solitude of the wilderness.  That cave is still present today at a monastery in the town of Subiaco, southeast of Rome. 

But when word of his dedicated life and holiness began to spread, people started coming to him for spiritual advice and direction. Benedict realized that God was calling him to be available to minister to the spiritual needs of people so he left his life as a hermit and became a monk. A monk is a man who dedicates himself to the quest of  striving for daily conversion of heart and to growing in intimacy with God through prayer and meditation. At that time there were groups of such men but they were quite disorganized and many simply wandered about without much aim or purpose. 

It was Benedict's mission to the Church and the world to organize men and women who wished to live this monastic life in community with one another.  He composed what has come to be called the Rule of St. Benedict in order to provide directives for a monastic way of life that is centered upon God, devoted to prayer and work, and extends hospitality to visitors, the sick and the needy.  The monks, nuns and laypeople who followed this Rule became known as the Order of St. Benedict or Benedictines and their monasteries can be found all over the world event today. 

He spent the remainder of his life at his famous Monte Cassino Abbey near Rome.   He died in 546 AD while standing, supported by two monks, in prayer before the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Ever since then, he has become known as a powerful intercessor with God and a champion in the spiritual battle against the devil and his minions. 

It is the teaching of the Bible and of the Catholic Church that angels are real beings, without bodies like us. but with intelligence and a free will enabling them to chose between good and evil. Before the creation of humankind, these angels had to chose whom they would serve: God or themselves. It is a choice we all have to make at one point or another of our existence. Sadly, some of these angels led by Lucifer (aka Satan which means Adversary) chose to live apart from God in what we now call Hell (which simply means an existence device of God and all that is good). Horrified and despairing at what they have done to themselves, they have ever since gone about the world seeking to tempt others to make their same sad choice.  These temptations in the battle can come to us directly from the Devil (which means The Divider because he causes division and conflict) or an evil spirit or indirectly through sinful selfish desires that are promoted by our culture and by other human beings,  But we are not left helpless in such a situation for we have the faithful angels as guardians and the saints as prayer-partners to help us be strong and faithful in the midst of this spiritual battle.  

St. Benedict became known as a heavenly  protector because he was often spiritually attacked but always came away victorious.   For example one time someone tried to poison him by putting a drug into his cup of wine. However, he had an interior intuition so he blessed the cup with the Sign of the Cross and it automatically just shattered into pieces. They were many other miraculous events brought about by the Sign of the Cross blessing of Benedict in the spiritual battle  such as a poisoned loaf of bread being snatched out his hands by a crow; a heavy boulder obstructing the church rolling away upon his blessing, and a dead young monk brought back to life.

The stories of Benedict's trust in and devotion to the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ eventually gave rise to what has become known as the Cross-Medal of St. Benedict. For centuries the Church has blessed these medals as reminders of his powerful and prayerful intercession, especially against all forms of evil. The spiritual power of this medal is not found in the object itself (that would be superstition) but in the trust that the user has in the Cross of Christ and the intercession of St. Benedict.   

The medal is full of symbolism and has prayers in abbreviated form.  It's main feature however must be a CROSS with the letters CSPB (Latin initials for Cross of our Father Benedict). It can have an image of St. Benedict (or nothing at all) on its reverse side. It is the only medal that receives a very special blessing precisely for the sake of spiritual battle and protection. 

But St. Benedict himself would tell us that his medal is not the primary way we should engage in spiritual battle and aim for victory. He would lead us first of all to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Priests who battle spiritual evil directly tell us that one good honest humble confession is worth more than 100 exorcisms!  Then Benedict would tell us to draw close to Christ in the Eucharist, through Scripture and through daily personal prayer.  This is essential because Christ is the Victor who has conquered the power of sin and death.  Then, being solidly grounded in our relationship with God, we can wear or use religious items such as the Medal of St. Benedict in a meaningful way that will help us to do good, avoid evil and become victorious is the spiritual battle. To use holy items without faith and devotion to Christ, without trying to live a Christian life, is meaningless and superstitious.

DOGGIE-BAG: A little something to take with you for spiritual snacking...

Prayer by St. Benedict
Almighty God, give me wisdom to perceive You, intelligence to understand You, diligence to seek You, patience to wait for You, eyes to behold You, a heart to meditate upon You and life to proclaim You, through the power of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

From the Rule of St. Benedict
Benedictine hospitality is an outstanding example of Christian charity. It reminds us how the early Christians saw Jesus truly spiritually present in others.  Reflect on this excerpt from the Rule and apply its lesson to yourself: do you strive to see Jesus in those you encounter in daily life at home, at work, in the store?  Are visitors warmly welcomed and served in your home as Christ would be welcomed and served? 

Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say, “I came as a guest, and you received Me” (Matt. 25:35). As soon as a guest is announced, therefore, let the Superior or the brethren meet him with all charitable service. And first of all let them pray together, and then exchange the kiss of peace. For the kiss of peace should not be offered until after the prayers have been said, on account of the devil’s deceptions. In the salutation of all guests, whether arriving or departing, let all humility be shown. Let the head be bowed or the whole body prostrated on the ground in adoration of Christ, who indeed is received in their persons. (From the Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 53)