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 The
parents of St. Benedict were Negroes from Africa, who had been brought as
slaves to San Fratello, a village in Sicily. There they embraced the Christian
faith, and lived so exemplary a life in the fulfillment of all their duties
that their master granted Benedict, their eldest son, his freedom. From his
youth, Benedict was especially God-fearing. He was austere towards his body,
not only through constant labor, but also through various types of voluntary
mortification. He served his former master for a wage, and when he had saved
enough, be bought a pair of oxen, with which he plowed as a day laborer.
Because of his black skin and his lowly origin, he was often mocked and
despised by his fellow laborers. He became acquainted with some hermits who
followed the rule of St. Francis, their life so attracted him that he sold his
small possessions, gave everything to the poor, and also led the life of a
hermit in the vicinity of Palermo. Until he was 40 years old he served God in
this manner in the practice of every virtue and austerity. Then an order was
issued by Pope Pius IV that all hermits following the rule of St. Francis
should betake themselves to one of the convents of the order. Immediately
Benedict went to the convent of the Friars Minor at Palermo, and there
continued to perform his former pious exercises in addition to the heavy work
which he gladly took upon himself. After the example of our holy Father St.
Francis, he observed the forty days' fast 7 times a year, he slept only a few
hours on the bare floor, and wore a very course habit. Poverty and chastity he
loved and guarded most scrupulously.
Because he was a model for all the brethren of the
convent, he was appointed their superior, even though he was only a lay
brother without any schooling. His holy example, his humble charity and
self-abnegation had the effect that not only did no one despise him in his
office, but rather was he venerated by all, and the inmates of the convent
advanced in all virtue during his administration. At the expiration of his
term of office, he went back to his duties in the kitchen with greater joy
than he had previously entered upon his duties as superior.
In his 63rd year he was attacked by severe illness,
which he recognized as his last. With profound devotion he received the last
rites of the Church, and departed this life on April 4, 1589, at the hour he
had foretold. Several years later his body was found still incorrupt, and
emitting a pleasant odor. Veneration for him soon spread from Palermo through
Italy, to Spain and Portugal, even to Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. Pope Benedict
XIV declared him blessed, and Pius VII solemnly placed him in the ranks of the
saints in the year 1807.
GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS
1. Notice that in St. Benedict there is verified
anew what Holy Scripture so often declares, that God is no respecter of
persons. Benedict was a Negro, the son of a slave, but because he was a true
servant of God, the Lord granted him eminent graces, and glorified him through
the church. Should you happen to be lowly in position, unattractive in person,
and receive little attention from people, do not let this cast you down. "In
every nation (and in every position) he that fears Him, and works for justice,
is acceptable to Him" (Acts 10:35). 2. Consider that the elevated position of
a person has no value in the sight of God: it will only require a stricter
account. A Christian, then, when he achieves power and distinction, must on
that account fear God all the more. Consequently, St. Paul exhorts masters to
have patience with their subjects, when he says, "Their Lord is also your
Lord" (Eph 6:9): and he warns the mighty against the perpetration of every
injustice, since "he who does wrong, shall receive for that which he has done
wrongfully" (Col 3:25). -- Have you perhaps allowed yourself to be misled into
fearing God less because you happened to have a position of authority? 3.
Consider that it should be with us even as it is with God; there should be no
regard of persons. Truly, we must render respect towards everyone according to
his vocation and position: "Honor to whom honor is due," says the Apostle (Rom
13:7), and St. Francis prescribes for his followers, "that they should
approach everyone decorously as it is becoming." But where there is question
of the salvation of souls or the purity of conscience, one may not allow
oneself to be influenced by the position of the person or by any power in this
world to depart even a finger's breadth from the right path. Neither may we
despise a person because of his insignificant rank and unimportant appearance;
under a poor garment there often beats a golden heart. As God, "who made the
little and the great, also provides equally for all" (Wis 6:8), so ought we to
render our love to all, since all are our brothers in the sight of the
heavenly Father. May almighty God grant us among His benefits also the grace
of this universal love!
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O God, who didst enrich St.
Benedict, Thy confessor, with heavenly gifts, and didst permit him to be
distinguished in the Church through miraculous signs and virtues, grant us, we
beseech Thee, that through his merits and intercession we may receive Thy
benefits. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
from:
The Franciscan Book
of Saints, ed. by
Marion Habig, ofm., © 1959 Franciscan Herald
Press
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