Benedict the Moor
Encyclopedia
Saint Benedict was an Italian saint
who is venerated in the Catholic Church and Lutheran Church.
ns who were taken to San Fratello
(also known as San Fradello or San Philadelphio), a small town near Messina, Sicily
, as slaves and later were converted to Christianity
. The Italian
"il Moro" for "the dark skinned" has been interpreted as referring to a Moorish heritage. Benedict was also called from his origin Æthiops or Niger (both simply meaning black and not referring to the modern-day countries.)
Benedict's parents were granted freedom for their son before his birth because of their "loyal service". Benedict did not attend any school and was illiterate. During his childhood and youth he worked alongside his family for meager wages and was quick to give what he had earned to those more needy and to the sick. When he was 21 years old, he was publicly insulted for his color. His patient and dignified bearing at this time was noted by the leader of a group of Franciscan
hermits. Benedict was quickly invited to join that order, and shortly thereafter he gave up all his earthly possessions and joined local hermits in Monte Pellegrino. He eventually became leader of that group. In 1564, when Pope Pius IV
disbanded the orders of hermits, ordering them to attach themselves to a religious community, Benedict moved to Palermo to the Franciscan
Friary of Saint Mary. Benedict started at the friary as a cook, but was soon elected guardian and then novice master - despite being a lay brother
and being completely illiterate. Benedict accepted the promotion, with some understandable reluctance, and successfully helped the order adopt a stricter version of the Franciscan monastic rule. Benedict was widely respected for his deep, intuitive
understanding of theology
and the Holy Scripture, and was often sought after for counseling. He also had a reputation as a healer of the sick. Combined, these things continued to bring many visitors to him, even after he returned to kitchen duty in his later years. He died at the age of 65 and, it is claimed, on the very day and hour he predicted. At the entrance of his cell in the Franciscan Convent of Saint Mary of Jesus, there is a plaque with the inscription "This is the cell where Saint Benedict lived, and the dates of his birth and death - 1524 and 1589". Those dates should be considered as the correct dates of his birth and death. However some historians indicate the date of his birth as 1526.
in 1743 and canonized in 1807 by Pope Pius VII
. It is also claimed that his body was found incorrupt upon exhumation a few years later. A patron saint of African-Americans, Benedict is remembered for his patience and understanding when confronted with racial prejudice and taunts. There are at least seven historically-black Roman Catholic parishes which bear his name in the United States
, one in Washington, DC, New York City
two in Chicago, Illinois (St.Benedict the African, East and West)}, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
on the north side of Omaha, Nebraska
, and one in south Columbus, Georgia
.. St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church located in the Historical District of Savannah, Georgia is the oldest Catholic Church estabished in 1874 for African-Americans in Georgia and one of the oldest in the Southeastern United States. There is also a st. Benedict, the Moor in St. Augustine, FL, as a part of the Catholic Parish, there.
, from Mexico
through Argentina
, with special reference to Venezuela
, where his devotion is spread through the country's various states, and he is celebrated on many different dates, according to the local traditions.
St Benedict the Moor Church in Dayton, Oh, On February 2, 2003, the parish community of St. James/Resurrection broke ground on eleven acres of property at the corner of Liscum Drive and McLin Parkway (State Route 35). Under the tenacious leadership of Father Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp., a Holy Ghost priest from Ghana, St. Benedict the Moor will celebrate the “homecoming” of a faith journey that started many years ago on May 14, 2005.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
who is venerated in the Catholic Church and Lutheran Church.
Life
He was born to Christopher and Diana Manasseri, AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
ns who were taken to San Fratello
San Fratello
San Fratello , formerly San Filadelfio, is a comune in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about 110 km east of Palermo and about 90 km west of Messina...
(also known as San Fradello or San Philadelphio), a small town near Messina, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, as slaves and later were converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. The Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
"il Moro" for "the dark skinned" has been interpreted as referring to a Moorish heritage. Benedict was also called from his origin Æthiops or Niger (both simply meaning black and not referring to the modern-day countries.)
Benedict's parents were granted freedom for their son before his birth because of their "loyal service". Benedict did not attend any school and was illiterate. During his childhood and youth he worked alongside his family for meager wages and was quick to give what he had earned to those more needy and to the sick. When he was 21 years old, he was publicly insulted for his color. His patient and dignified bearing at this time was noted by the leader of a group of Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
hermits. Benedict was quickly invited to join that order, and shortly thereafter he gave up all his earthly possessions and joined local hermits in Monte Pellegrino. He eventually became leader of that group. In 1564, when Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV
Pope Pius IV , born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was Pope from 1559 to 1565. He is notable for presiding over the culmination of the Council of Trent.-Biography:...
disbanded the orders of hermits, ordering them to attach themselves to a religious community, Benedict moved to Palermo to the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Friary of Saint Mary. Benedict started at the friary as a cook, but was soon elected guardian and then novice master - despite being a lay brother
Lay brother
In the most common usage, lay brothers are those members of Catholic religious orders, particularly of monastic orders, occupied primarily with manual labour and with the secular affairs of a monastery or friary, in contrast to the choir monks of the same monastery who are devoted mainly to the...
and being completely illiterate. Benedict accepted the promotion, with some understandable reluctance, and successfully helped the order adopt a stricter version of the Franciscan monastic rule. Benedict was widely respected for his deep, intuitive
Intuition (knowledge)
Intuition is the ability to acquire knowledge without inference or the use of reason. "The word 'intuition' comes from the Latin word 'intueri', which is often roughly translated as meaning 'to look inside'’ or 'to contemplate'." Intuition provides us with beliefs that we cannot necessarily justify...
understanding of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and the Holy Scripture, and was often sought after for counseling. He also had a reputation as a healer of the sick. Combined, these things continued to bring many visitors to him, even after he returned to kitchen duty in his later years. He died at the age of 65 and, it is claimed, on the very day and hour he predicted. At the entrance of his cell in the Franciscan Convent of Saint Mary of Jesus, there is a plaque with the inscription "This is the cell where Saint Benedict lived, and the dates of his birth and death - 1524 and 1589". Those dates should be considered as the correct dates of his birth and death. However some historians indicate the date of his birth as 1526.
Sainthood
Benedict was beatified by Pope Benedict XIVPope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
in 1743 and canonized in 1807 by Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
. It is also claimed that his body was found incorrupt upon exhumation a few years later. A patron saint of African-Americans, Benedict is remembered for his patience and understanding when confronted with racial prejudice and taunts. There are at least seven historically-black Roman Catholic parishes which bear his name in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, one in Washington, DC, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
two in Chicago, Illinois (St.Benedict the African, East and West)}, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
on the north side of Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, and one in south Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
.. St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church located in the Historical District of Savannah, Georgia is the oldest Catholic Church estabished in 1874 for African-Americans in Georgia and one of the oldest in the Southeastern United States. There is also a st. Benedict, the Moor in St. Augustine, FL, as a part of the Catholic Parish, there.
Devotion
The devotion to Saint Benedict is spread throughout Latin AmericaLatin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
through Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, with special reference to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, where his devotion is spread through the country's various states, and he is celebrated on many different dates, according to the local traditions.
Further reading
Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.St Benedict the Moor Church in Dayton, Oh, On February 2, 2003, the parish community of St. James/Resurrection broke ground on eleven acres of property at the corner of Liscum Drive and McLin Parkway (State Route 35). Under the tenacious leadership of Father Francis Tandoh, C.S.Sp., a Holy Ghost priest from Ghana, St. Benedict the Moor will celebrate the “homecoming” of a faith journey that started many years ago on May 14, 2005.
External links
- St. Benedict the Moor on Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...