History of the Order

The outline of the Benedictine order needs to be defined more precisely. St. Benedict (480-about 550) did not intend to create an order or any new form of Christian life. He was a monk, included in the monastic, hermitic and community tradition developing within Christianity.The first evidenced forms of monastic life originated on the turn of the 3rd and the 4th century in Egypt.Monasticism got to western Europe through the eastern part of the Church. St. Benedict derives from cenobitic tradition (monks living in communities), formed by St. Pachomius, Basil, Cassian and others.

The history of the Benedictine order is marked out by the history of St. Benedict`s Rule. St. Benedict formulated it in the early part of the 6th century. At that time the Rule of St. Benedict acted as one of many monastic observances.. Pope Gregory the Great contributed to extol both the Rule and the figure of St. Benedict in his Dialogues. The dissemination of the Rule comes about in the early part of the 9th century in the Carolingian country. Emperor Charles the Great accepted it as a leading observance of monks in his country.

The rise of the Benedictine order and its great importance is connected with the time of the Church reform in the 10th century, in which the monasteries connected with Cluny Abbey played a significant part. At that time there occured a movement towards poor monasticism among Benedictine monks; new branches arose known nowadays as Cistercians, Cameldalites etc. Only since then one can speak about a separate character of Benedictines as an order. Benedictine abbeys united in various forms of congregations always, however, keeping autonomy of particular houses and preserving their own tradition. A great burden for many abbeys was the imposition by the rulers of the so called commandam abbots from the 10th to 16th century.Benedictines went through a serious crisis during the Enlightenment because of numerous annulments.

As far back as the beginning of the 19th century there came into being centres of renewal of life in France (Solesmes Abbey) and in Germany (Beuron Abbey). The renewal of Benedictine life in Europe resulted in great foundation work on other continents (America, Africa, Asia). The postulate of this renewal was a return to sources. Benedictine monks undertook studies on their own spirituality and the Rule of St. Benedict, as well as studies on the Church Fathers, they examined and renewed liturgy and Gregorian chant in their monasteries. This reform had also influence on the whole Church inspiring a liturgical movement, patristic studies and the conciliar renewal of liturgy.

A Benedictine federation originated on pope Leo XIII`s recommendation in order to co-operate closer between each Benedictine congregation grouping autonomous abbeys and priorates. There was an abbot-primate at the head of the federation. His abode is St. Anselm Abbey which also acts as the centre of Benedictine studies (ateneum and college).