Benedictines
Sign in to saveThe Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, they are the oldest of all the religious orders in the Latin Church. The male religious are also sometimes called the Black Monks, especially in English speaking countries, after the colour of their habits, although some, like the Olivetans, wear white. They were founded by Benedict of Nursia, a 6th-century Italian monk who laid the foundations of Benedictine mon
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The Benedictines are Catholic monks and nuns who live in communities devoted to prayer and contemplation, following a set of guidelines called the Rule of Saint Benedict established in the 6th century. As the oldest religious order in the Catholic Church, they have played an important role in preserving learning and spirituality throughout Christian history.
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Key facts
- Organization.name
- Order of Saint Benedict
- Organization.native_name
- Ordo Sancti Benedicti
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- la
- Organization.logo
- Coat of Arms of the Order of Saint Benedict (simple).svg
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- 120
- Organization.logo_caption
- Coat of arms of the order
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- Saint Benedict Medal icon.svg
- Organization.image_size
- 150
- Organization.caption
- Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
- Organization.abbreviation
- O.S.B.
- Organization.founder
- Benedict of Nursia
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Article
16 sectionsContents
- Historical development
- Austria and Germany
- France
- Poland and Lithuania
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- Monastic libraries in England
- United States
- Benedictine vows and life
- Organization
- Other orders
- Notable Benedictines
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, they are the oldest of all the religious orders in the Latin Church. The male religious are also sometimes called the Black Monks, especially in English speaking countries, after the colour of their habits, although some, like the Olivetans, wear white. They were founded by Benedict of Nursia, a 6th-century Italian monk who laid the foundations of Benedictine monasticism through the formulation of his Rule. Benedict's sister Scholastica, possibly his twin, also became religious from an early age, but chose to live as a hermit. They retained a close relationship until her death.
Despite being called an order, the Benedictines do not operate under a single hierarchy. They are instead organized as a collection of autonomous monasteries and convents, some known as abbeys. The order is represented internationally by the Benedictine Confederation, an organization set up in 1893 to represent the order's shared interests. They do not have a superior general or motherhouse with universal jurisdiction but elect an Abbot Primate to represent themselves to the Vatican and to the world.
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6th-century establishments in Europe6th-century establishments in ItalyAsceticismBenedictinesBenedictine spiritualityCatholic orders and societiesCatholic spiritualityChristian religious orders established in the 6th centuryHistory of Catholic monasticismInstitutes of consecrated lifeMonastic rulesOrder of Saint Benedict