The Life of Our most Holy Father Saint Benedict By Gregory the Great
Chapter I (One)
The rule of Saint Benedict is the strong arm of the Church’s warfare, a sweet smelling thing and, as it were, a spiritual weapon.
The Life of Our most Holy Father Saint Benedict
By Gregory the Great
CHAPTER I
Benedict, having now left the school, resolved to betake himself to the desert, accompanied only by his nurse, who most tenderly loved him. He therefore came to a place called Affile and remained there for some time in the Church of St. Peter by the charitable invitation of many virtuous people who lived there for devotion, so it happened that his nurse borrowed from a neighbor a sieve to cleanse wheat, which, being left carelessly upon the table, was found broken in two pieces. Therefore, on her return, finding it broken, she began to weep bitterly because it was only lent to her. But the religious and pious boy, Benedict, seeing his nurse lament, was moved with compassion, and taking with him the two pieces of the broken sieve, with tears, he gave himself to prayer, which no sooner ended, but he found the sieve whole and found not any sign that it had been broken. Currently, he restored the sieve, which had been broken, to his nurse, to her exceeding comfort. This matter was divulged to all that lived there about, and so much was admired by all that the inhabitants of that place caused the sieve to be hanged up in the church porch, that not only those present but all posterity might know with how great gifts of grace Benedict had been endowed from the beginning of his conversion. The sieve remained to be seen for many years after and hung over the church door even until the times of the Longobards.
But Benedict, more desirous to suffer afflictions than covetous of praise and rather willing to undergo labors for the honor of God than to be extolled with the favors of this world, fled secretly from his nurse to a remote place in the desert called Subiaco, about forty miles from Rome, in which a fountain springing with cool and crystal waters extended itself at first into a broad lake, and running farther with an increase of waters becomes at the end a river. As he was traveling to this place, a certain monk called Romanus met him and asked where he was going. Having understood his intention, he both kept it secret and afforded him help; moreover, he gave him a religious habit and assisted him in all things. The man of God who came to this place lived for the space of three years in an obscure cave, unknown to any man except Romanus the Monk, who lived not far off in a monastery governed by Father Deodatus. But he would piously steal forth and, on certain days, bring to Benedict a loaf of bread that he had spared from his own allowance. But there being no way to the cave from Romanus his cell by reason of a steep and high rock that hung over it, Romanus used to let down the loaf by a long cord, to which he also fastened a little bell, so that by the sound of it, the man of God might know when Romanus brought him the bread and go out to receive it. But the old enemy, envying the charity of one and the reflection of the other, when on a certain day he beheld the bread let down in this manner, threw a stone and broke the bell. Notwithstanding, Romanus afterwards failed to assist him in the best manner he was able. Now, when it pleased Almighty God that Romanus should rest from his labors, and that the life of Benedict should be manifest to the world for an example to all men, that the candle wet upon a candlestick might shine and give light to the whole Church of God, our Lord vouchsafed to appear to a certain Priest living far off, who had make ready his dinner for Easter Day, saying to him: “Thou hast prepared good cheer for thyself, and My servant in such a place is famished for hunger.” Who presently rose up, and on the solemn day of Easter went towards the place with such meat as he had provided for himself, where seeking the man of God, amongst craggy rocks, winding valleys and hollow pits he found him hid in a cave. Then after prayers and blessing the Almighty Lord, they sat down, and after some spiritual discourse, the Priest said, “Rise, and let us take our reflection, for this is Easter Day.” To whom the man of God answered, “I know it is Easter, because I have found so much favor as to see thee.” (For not having conversed with men for a long time, he did not know it was Easter Day.) The good priest did therefore again affirm it, saying, “Truly this is the day of our Lord’s Resurrection, and therefore it is not fit that you should keep abstinence, and for this cause I am sent that we may eat together that which Almighty God hath bestowed on us.” Whereupon blessing God, they fell to their meat. Their discourse and dinner ended, and the priest returned to his church.
About the same time, certain shepherds found him hid in a cave, who, at first, spying him among the bushes, clothed in the skins of beasts, took him for some wild beast, but afterwards, knowing him to be a servant of God, many of them were converted from their savage lives to virtue. By this means, his name began to be famous in the country, and many did resort to him, bringing with them necessities for his body while receiving from his lips the food of life.
“Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart.” ~Prologue to the Holy Rule of St. Benedict
“The sleepy like to make excuses.”~Saint Benedict
Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, and at other times in devout reading.~Saint Benedict 
The Medal
Things To Know
Besides poison, the medal is believed to…
a) Ward off witchcraft and any other diabolical and haunting influence. That means it also protects you from temptation, delusion or being tormented by evil spirits.
b) Obtain the conversion of sinners, bringing them into the Catholic Church, especially when they are in danger of death. That is why the medal has been also nicknamed “the Cross of the Happy Death” when it is attached to a crucifix.
c) Secure the timely and healthy birth of children, as tradition also claims it is a great means of protection against contagious diseases.
I’ll do my best to send you Chapter II tomorrow.
Have a great day!