Saint
Benedict was born at Sicily, Italy, in 1526. He was son of slavers in a
property near Messina. He was liberated still very young by his Master.
Saint
Benedict was born at Sicily, Italy, in 1526. He was son of slavers in a
property near Messina. He was liberated still very young by his Master.
He manifested, since he was ten years old, a deep tendency to penitence and solitude. Keeping flocks of sheep, he had devoted to prayers, and the bad treatment who had received from his companions were occasion for he comes with much fervor to Jesus, fountain of all consolation. When he was eighteen years old, with the fruit of his work, had proved to himself and to the poor.
He was twenty one years old when was publicly insulted because his color. The worthy and patient attitude that he had on that occasion was not unperceived, and the leader of a group of Franciscan eremites invited him to belong their community. Benedict accept the invitation and, long the time, became their new leader.
About 1564, the group spread, and Benedict was accept like a laic brother by Franciscan friars from Palermo, starting by working at the kitchen.
About 1578, they had needed a new guardian (title given to the superior), and Benedict was chosen, besides be laic and analphabet. He only accept the position after comprehensible reluctance, but administrated the monastery, having adopted an interpretation much more rigorous of the Franciscan rules.
His conduit on the work justified fully the chosen by his superiors: he was respectful to with the priests, charitable with the laic brothers, condescending to with the novices, and was respected by all, without nobody had tried to abuse of his humidity.
His reliable on the Providence was unlimited: he had recommended to the gate man never refuse charities to the poor who had present. He gave to the religious the example of all the virtues. He was ever the first one on the choir and on the community exercises, the first one on the visit to she ills and on the handwork.
On the command of the Novice House he showed a large sweetness and consummate prudence: the novices had on him a security guide, a father full of tenderness and an excellent master of the Scripture, which readings of the Office rites had explained to him with surprising facility.
Without knowing reed and write, he had, manifestly, the gift of the infuse science, happening to him to give luminous answers to masters of Theology who came to consult him. To this gift he jointed also the gift of penetration of the spirits and hearts.
His life became a continuous exercise of all virtues, and God gave to him the gift of to do miracles.
Finished his time on the position, he came back again to the work of kitchen man, happiest by join again with the obscure and occult life, object of all his wishes.
In 1589 he fell gravely sick, and God had disclosed to him that his end was close. On the reception of the last sacraments he experimented like a foretaste of the celestial joys. He died sweetly on April 4th.
He was canonized in 1807, and it is common in his images to be with Jesus child at his arms, who was put for the Holiest Mary, because his large devotion, and the suave sweetness with that Jesus full his heart.
Saint Benedict was named of "The Moor Saint" because his niger color. His liturgical celebration is on October 5th.
Certainly he is one of the most popular saints in Brazil, which devotion
was brought by the Portuguese people, and there is a large number of parishes
and
chapels those had chosen him as patron, inspired in his model of charity
and humility.
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