Benedict the Moor

Saint Benedict
The Moor, Il Moro, The African, The Black
Born	1526, San Fratello, Messina, Italy
Died	April 4 1589, Palermo, Italy
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Church
Feast	April 4
Patronage	African missions; African American; black missions; black people; Palermo, Sicily San Fratello, Sicily
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Saint Benedict ("The Moor"; 1526 – April 4, 1589) was an Italian saint.

He was born of Christopher and Diana Manasseri, Africans (Ethiopians) who were taken to San Fratello (also known as San Fradello or San Philadelphio), near Messina, Sicily, as slaves and later were converted to Christianity. Benedict was not a Moor, but the Italian "il Moro" for "the Black" has been misinterpreted 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 of their son at the age of 18, in what is cited as being due to their "loyal service". Benedict continued to work 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 during 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 gave up all his earthly possessions and joined local hermits in Montepellegrino. 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 more strict version of the Franciscan monastic rule. Benedict was widely respected for his deep, intuitive understanding of theology and scripture; 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 63 and, it is claimed, on the very day and hour he predicted.

Benedict was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV 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. He is commemorated as a confessor by the Lutheran Church on April 4.

References

Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.

External links

• StBenedicttheMoor.org
• Catholic Forum: St Benedict Biography
• Anja's Art: St. Benedict Wood Sculpture
• "St. Benedict of San Philadelphio" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.

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