In the footsteps of St Benedict

List News

11/07/2020 - Italy

Pilgrims from Rome to Subiaco

Thanks to the planning of our OMI Chaplain, last Saturday three members of the Via Aurelia community took the opportunity to visit this sacred site. It is here in the early sixth century that a very young Saint Benedict of Norcia lived for three years in a cave, allowing a vision to take shape - the charism and the spirituality which would lead him in a few years’ time to found the first monastic communities along the Aniene river valley: the seed from which would develop the whole of western monasticism.

With our chaplain navigating, we travelled in a van, allowing for social distancing. Our chauffeur was an Oblate seminarian who drove us skilfully all the way up the mountains and down again. The five of us were very happy with our visit to St Benedict's monastery and that of his twin sister, St Scholastica.

Afterwards we drove to a nearby town, Cervara, where we were delighted by the carvings in the rock-face, the picturesque streets and gorgeous flowers. Lunch was a very happy occasion in a family-run restaurant where the welcome was warm and the food excellent.

We are very grateful to our Oblate brothers for making the occasion possible.