CHAPTER XXXVIII: How a mad woman was cured in his cave.

How a mad woman was cured in his cave.

In the cave also in which he formerly lived in Subiaco, even to this day, miracles are wrought upon such as repair thither with true faith. For very lately happened that which I now relate. A certain woman bereft of reason, and altogether distracted in her senses, roamed over mountains and valleys, through woods and fields by day and night, never resting, except when forced from weariness to lie down. One day, as she raged thus madly up and down, she lighted upon the cave of blessed Benedict, and by chance entered and remained there. The next morning she came out as sound and perfect in her senses as if she had never been out of them, and from that time remained all her life in the health which she had there recovered.

PETER.

What should be the reason that we experience, even in the patronage of martyrs, that they do not bestow so great favours by their bodies as by their relics: yea, and do greater miracles where themselves be not?

GREGORY.

Where the bodies of holy martyrs lie, no doubt, Peter, but there they are able to shew many miracles, as they do; for to such as have recourse unto them, with pure mind, they shew many marvellous favours. But forasmuch as weak souls might doubt whether they be present to hear them or no in those places where their bodies be not, it is necessary to shew more miracles where weak souls may doubt of their presence. For they whose minds are fixed in God have so much the greater merit of faith, that though their bodies lie not there, yet they be there present to hear our prayers. Wherefore Truth Itself to increase the faith of His disciples said: "If I go not away the Paraclete will not come unto you." For whereas it is certain, that the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, always proceedeth from the Father and the Son: why doth the Son say that He will go from them that the Paraclete may come, who never departeth from the Son? But because the Disciples beholding our Lord in the flesh, did desire always to behold Him with their corporeal eyes, it was rightly said unto them: "Unless I go away the Paraclete will not come." As if He had said plainly: If I withdraw not My bodily presence, I do not shew you the love of the Spirit: and, unless you cease to see Me carnally, you will never learn to love spiritually.

PETER.
What you say pleaseth me.
GREGORY.

Let us now for a while cease our discourse, that by silence we may be the better enabled to prosecute the miracles of other saints.

THE END. __________________________________________________________________

CHRONOLOGY
OF THE
LIFE OF THE MOST HOLY PATRIARCH
SAINT BENEDICT
(from Haften's Disgnis. Monast.)

"His memory shall not depart away; and his Name shall be in request from generation to generation." (Ecclus. 39)

(The figures in parenthesis denote the age of St. Benedict.)

YEAR.

480. (--) St. Benedict and his twin-sister St. Scholastica are born in Nursia, a town in the south of Italy: their Father, Anicius Eupropius: their Mother, Abundantia.

487. (7.) St; Benedict is sent to Rome to study, his nurse Cyrilla accompanies him.

493. (13.) God, calling him to higher things, and the dangers of the world prompting him to leave it, he quits Rome to seek salvation and perfection in solitude. On their way in a little village, 30 miles from Rome, he works a miracle to console Cyrilla.

494. (14.) He leaves Cyrilla and goes alone to Subiaco, a mountainous district, 40 miles distant from Rome: meets a holy Hermit named Romanus, from whom he asks and receives the Religious Habit: then going into a little Cave amidst the rocks, dwells there in union with his God in prayer, unknown to all, excepting St. Romanus who brought him food.

497. (17.) On the Easter Sunday of this year, a Priest receives a command from God to visit this Cave, and honour the youthful hermit.

Some neighbouring Shepherds discover the Saint.

He gains the noble victory over the spirit of impurity and placing the lily of his Chastity amidst thorns and nettles, he secures it against every temptation for the remainder of his life.

509. (29.) His sanctity becoming noised abroad many men leave the world, and put themselves under his spiritual guidance.

510. (30.) After frequent refusals he, at last, yields to the request of the Monks of Vico-Varro, who besought him to become their Abbot. As he had foretold them they grew angry at his corrections: they seek to poison him: he returns to his dear solitude of Subiaco.

St. Maurus is born.

511. (31.) During the next 19 years St. Benedict builds 12 monasteries on the Subiaco mountains.

515. (35.) St Placid is born.

522. (42.) Sts. Maurus and Placid are brought to Subiaco by their Parents, and receive from St. Benedict the Monastic Habit.

523. (43.) St. Maurus in obedience to St. Benedict walks on the waters of the lake, into which St. Placid had fallen, and saves him from being drowned.

529. (49.) St. Benedict leaves Subiaco, and goes to Mount Cassino (about 50 miles south of Subiaco).

530. (50.) He begins to build the Monastery of Mount Cassino.

536. (56.) He sends St. Placid into Sicily.

St. Benedict has the mysterious vision, in which God grants him the sight of the whole world, brought together in one ray of the sun.

537. (57.) St. Placid begins the Monastery at Messina in Sicily: he finishes it in 4 years.

539. (59.) During a famine St. Benedict distributes to the poor all the corn of the Monastery: on the following day he receives from Heaven, in return, 200 bushels of flour.

In hatred of Disobedience and out of love for Charity he works the miracle of the glass oil-jar.

Whilst he is at prayer with some of his Brethren, an empty vessel which was in the room is miraculously filled with oil, even to over-flowing.

541. (61.) St. Placid is martyred (probably in this year).

543. (63.) King Totila the Barbarian visits St. Benedict: receives his paternal reproach and prophecy.

On the 10^th of January, St. Benedict sends St. Maurus into France.

On the 6^th of February he has the last conference with his sister St. Scholastica.

On the 10^th of February, he sees the soul of his Sister, St. Scholastica, ascending to heaven under the form of a Dove.

On the 16^th of March, knowing that the hour of his Death is near he orders his grave to be opened.

On the 21^st of March at 3 o'clock in the morning, standing in the chapel of his Monastery of Mount Cassino, supported by his Religious, he dies, in the 63^rd year of his age. __________________________________________________________________

THE RULE
OF OUR
MOST HOLY FATHER SAINT BENEDICT.
Pax multa diligentibus legem tuam.
Mark a monk,

Disciple of the Holy Father Benedict. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

While the blind crowd at idol shrines profane devotions paid,

Believing that by mortal hands immortal gods were made,

This fane with altars ruinous by them was whilom built,

Who offered to the impure Jove a sacrifice of guilt;

But holy Benedict, by God called from the desert lone,

Made pure this port, the statues broke, threw down the sculptur'd stone.

A temple for the living God this idol fane is now:

Let not the faithful soul delay to pay his pious vow;

But hither haste, spite of rough ways; his recompense shall be

That he the heavens opened wide with eye of faith may see.

With hard and toilsome labour'tis that great things are attained:

Within the narrow path alone the blessed life is gained.

While hither coming penitent bow'd down with load of sin,

I felt its weight was gone from me, I felt at peace within;

And I believe in bliss above I too shall have my share,

If thou for Marcus, Benedict, wilt breathe an earnest prayer.

The foolish people once had called this place a citadel

And dedicated, for their gods of marble there to dwell;

But had they wished to find true words with which to stamp the same,

Tartarean Chaos blank, confused, had been its rightful name.

Hither they wandered, blinded fools, unceasing vows to pay

To the death-dealing thundering Jove, acknowledging his sway.

The hall's high summit, I suppose, he once had struck in vain,

Giving the name of citadel to this now sacred fane.

Against it now shall not prevail gates of eternal Hell:

That which the stronghold was of Death is now Life's citadel.

From here is stormed the golden gate of the bright starry heaven

While the bless'd crowd sing angel strains to angel voices given.

From here, O Hermit thou dost speak to God the Thunderer true

On mountain heights leading thy quire, the faithful chosen few.

When from a mountain far away to this mount thou didst come

Christ wast thy guide, thy path, whilst thou the desert drear didst roam.

He angels sent to keep thy feet at every cross-way

Lest from the rightful destin'd path thy faltering steps should stray.

He had foretold to thee, just man, alone in desert land,

Avoid these spots, another friend to guide thee is at hand.

Now thou art taken home to him, the mountain's lurid dye

Takes colour from the lowering clouds which hide its top from view.

The caves drip down with copious tears, the barren grottoes mourn,

The beasts their denizens lament--thou hast left all forlorn.

Thee too the lakes and brooks have wept with deep and unfeign'd grief.

The wood unkempt hath shed for thee each rent and withered leaf.

Fables I speak not when I tell that, following thee anear,

To bear thee faithful company three ravens did appear.

The peoples seek thee out, where thou hast found thy place of rest,

Where thou await'st the holy night, eve of the pious feast.

Like orphans destitute they mourn with hoarse and bitter plaint

Bereft of thy sweet fellowship, thou gentle, perfect Saint.

When thou wert hither brought, behold! the rocks and thorns divide,

And wonder-working fountains spring from the earth's parched side.

Surely the mount of Christ, is Lord o'er all the mountains round;

And yet beneath thy feet it placed its top--twice-hallow'd ground.

For thee with head submiss it makes all its rough places plain

That thou, O holy Saint of Christ, should'st herald forth His reign.

That they who seek thee, Benedict, should not grow faint and tire,

Its gentle slope spreads out for those who upward do aspire.

Tis meet that unto thee the mount itself this honour bring,

Since with thy healing presence thou dost winter turn to spring.

Thou dost lay out its places dry with gardens fair to view;

Thou coverest its sterile rocks with flowers of every hue.

The crags amazed bring forth their crops and harvests not their own,

The greenwood trees bend down with fruits where once was arid stone.

Thus thou dost water hearts of men with healthful streams of prayer

Bidding their vain and barren acts the fruit of grace to bear.

So now, I pray thee, turn the thorns which rend thy Marcus' breast

To fruits unfading of good works, earnest of endless rest. __________________________________________________________________

THE PROLOGUE
OF OUR
MOST HOLY FATHER SAINT BENEDICT
TO HIS RULE

Hearken, my son, to the precepts of thy Master, and incline the ear of thy heart willingly to hear, and effectually to accomplish, the admonition of thy living Father, that by the labour of obedience thou mayest return to Him, from Whom thou didst depart by the sloth of disobedience. To thee therefore is my speech now directed, who, renouncing thy own will, dost take upon thee the strong and bright armour of obedience, to fight under the Lord Christ our true King.

First of all whatever good work thou dost begin, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect; that He Who hath now vouchsafed to reckon us in the number of His children, may not be saddened by our evil deeds. For we must at all times so serve Him with the goods He hath bestowed upon us, that He may not either as an angry Father disinherit us His children, or as a dread Lord, exasperated by our offences, deliver us up to perpetual punishment as wicked servants, who would not follow Him to glory.

Let us therefore arise, the Scripture stirring us up and saying, "It is now the hour for us to rise from sleep", [1] and our eyes being opened to the deifying light, let us with wondering ears attend to the admonition with the Divine Voice daily addresseth to us, saying: "To-day if you shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts". [2] And again: "He that hath ears, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches." [3] And what saith He? "Come, ye children, and hearken unto Me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord." [4] "Run while ye have the light of life, that the darkness of death overtake ye not." [5]

And our Lord seeking His labourer among the multitude to whom He here speaketh, saith again: "Who is the man that will have life, and desireth to see good days?" [6] If thou, hearing this, dost answer: "I am he": God saith unto thee: "If thou wilt have true and everlasting life, refrain thy tongue from evil, and thy lips, that they speak no guile. Decline from evil, and do good; seek after peace and pursue it."
[7] And when you have done this: My eyes shall be upon you, and My ears shall be open to your prayers. And before you can call upon Me, I will say: "Behold I am present." [8] What, dearest brethren, can be sweeter, than this voice of the Lord, inviting us? Behold how in His loving Kindness He showeth unto us the way of life! Our loins therefore being girt with faith and the observance of good works, and our feet shod with the guidance of the Gospel of peace, let us walk in His ways, that we may deserve to see in His kingdom Him Who has called us. [9]

If we desire to dwell in the tabernacle of this kingdom, it can only be by running the way of good works, whereby alone it can be reached. But let us ask our Lord with the Prophet saying to Him: "Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, or who shall rest on Thy holy hill?" [10] After this question, Brethren, let us hear our Lord answering and showing us the way to His tabernacle, saying: "He that walketh without spot and worketh justice. He that speaketh truth in his heart, that hath not forged guile with his tongue. He that hath not forged guile with his tongue. He that hath not done evil to his neighbour and hath not received reproach against him." [11]

He that rejecting out of his mind the malignant devil with his suggestions, hath brought them all to nought, and taking his thoughts while they are still young, hath dashed them against the rock Christ.
[12] All they who fearing the Lord, take not pride in their good observance, but knowing that all the good they have, or can do, proceedeth not from themselves, but from the Lord, magnify Him, thus working in them, and say with the Prophet: "Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to Thy Name give glory." [13] Thus the Apostle Paul imputed not anything of his preaching to himself, saying: "By the grace of God I am what I am." [14] And again he saith: "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." [15]

Hence also our Lord saith in the Gospel: "He that heareth these My words and doth them,--I will liken him to a wise man that hath built his house upon a rock. The floods came, the winds blew, and beat against that house, and it fell not; because it was founded upon a rock." [16] Our Lord fulfilling these things, daily waiteth for us to answer by our deeds, these His holy admonitions. Therefore the days of our life are prolonged for the amendment of our evil deeds, according to those words of the Apostle: "Knowest thou not that the patience of God leadeth thee to repentance?" [17] For our loving Lord saith: "I will not the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live."
[18]

Having therefore, my Brethren, enquired of our Lord who shall be the dweller in this tabernacle, we have heard the precept to the one dwelling, and if we fulfil the functions of this habitation we shall become heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Therefore our hearts and bodies must be prepared to fight under the holy obedience of His commands, and we must beg our Lord to supply that, by the assistance of His grace, which our nature is unable to perform. And if flying the pains of hell we will to attain to everlasting life, we must, while yet time serves, and we live in this flesh, perform all these things by the light of faith, and haste to do that now which will be expedient for us for ever hereafter.

We are therefore now about to institute a school of the service of God; in which we hope nothing will be ordained rigorous or burdensome. But if in some things we proceed with a little severity, sound reason so advising, for the amendment of vices or preserving of charity; do not straightway for fear thereof, flee from the way of salvation which is always strait and difficult in the beginning. [19] But in process of time and growth of faith, when the heart has once been enlarged, the way of God's commandments is run with unspeakable sweetness of love; so that, never departing from His teaching, but persevering in the Monastery in His doctrine until death, we share now by patience in the sufferings of Christ, that we may deserve afterwards to be partakers of His kingdom. [20] __________________________________________________________________

[1] Rom. xiii. 1
[2] Ps. xciv. 8.
[3] Apoc. ii. 7.
[4] Ps. xxxiii. 12.
[5] Joan. xii. 35.
[6] Ps. xxxiii. 13
[7] Ibid. 14, 15.
[8] Isai. lxv. 24.
[9] Ephes. vi. 14, 15.
[10] Ps. xiv. 4.
[11] Ps. xiv. 2, 3.
[12] Ps. cxxxvi. 9.
[13] Ps. cxiii. 1.
[14] I. Cor. xv. 10.
[15] II. Cor. x. 47.
[16] Matth. vii. 24, seq.
[17] Rom. ii. 4.
[18] Ezech. xviii. 23.
[19] Matth. vii. 13.

[20] II Cor. i. 7. __________________________________________________________________