Why is Benedict of Nursia important?

Answer 1

Catholic AnswerSt. Benedict is the founder of Western Monasticism. Most of the great Orders in the Church trace their heritage back to St. Benedict, and many, many Orders which are not strictly Benedictine, use his Rule. The Catholic Encyclopedia article is below. From the Benedictine Order, which is the largest monastic order in the world, there have come Cistercians, Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists), Camoldolese are all direct descendants of the Benedictines. Orders such as the Carthusians, founded by St. Bruno in the 11th century are hermits who do not live under a Benedictine rule per se, but St. Bruno was influenced by both Benedictine monasticism and eremitical asceticism. During the Age of Faith, the Middle Ages, and up until through the protestant revolt the Benedictines preserved Western Civilization preserving many manuscripts which would have been totally lost. They started the education system that was the forerunner of what we have today. Their monasteries became the center of towns and cities. St. Benedict's importance to western civilization and the Church can not possibly be overemphasised.