1. By Jeff Albright Chad Cousino Alfred Brown

2.  The founder of the Benedictines was Saint Benedict of Nursia.  Honored by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of Europe and students.

3.  The Monte Cassino was the first monastery founded in 529 by Benedict of Nursia.  The Benedictine communities were locally found in central Italy.  They were founded for monks first then later nuns.

4.  St. Benedict founded his monastery to be a "school for the Lord's service." It was to provide the beginning of a new effort to preserve the treasures of human culture in the centuries to come.  Benedict had no intention that the preservation of culture would become an important contribution of his monks.

5.  Benedictine life is formed around the Gospel of Christ and is lived in witness to this Good News in peace and simplicity. It strives to create a background surrounded by Christian values and an attitude of acceptance to the Spirit. Benedictine education bases its inspiration and values from the order and monastic tradition.

6.  Benedictines deserve the credit for introducing the idea of the dignity of work into the culture of the West.  Benedictines do not take a vow of silence but hours are set aside and silence is maintained as much as possible.