Did the benedictine monastery contributed to the growth of the roman catholic church?

Answer 1

The Benedictine Order comprises of hundreds of monasteries over the centuries which many congregations: like the American Cassinese Congregation, the Swiss Federation, and the English congregation. There are others such as the Solemnes congregation which still celebrates the entire Office and daily Mass in Latin with the pre-Vatican II rites. There are also offshoots from the Benedictine such as the Cistercians and the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists). Through the centuries the Benedictines have been almost single handedly responsible for keeping Western culture alive through the "Dark Ages" or the Age of Faith. The monks kept learning alive, copied books, and preserved learning when a great many in Europe where barely subsisting. The Benedictines have contributed an enormous amount to architecture, science, etc. Many of the beautiful monasteries and Cathedrals throughout Europe were built for or by the Benedictines. The Benedictines have educated generations of priests and religious. Their contributions for the last fourteen centuries can not be underestimated.