In Saint Benedict’s Footsteps

On 6 December, a group of seminarians made a formative visit to Montecassino, guided by Don Eduardo Baura and under the spiritual care of Abbot Antonio Luca Fallica. The visit offered a profound encounter with history, spirituality, and monastic tradition, deeply rooted in the life and legacy of Saint Benedict. Throughout the visit, the seminarians were led through significant sacred and historical sites, allowing them to reflect on the enduring influence of Benedictine spirituality on the life of the Church.

A particularly moving moment was the visit to the tombs of Saint Benedict of Nursia and his sister, Saint Scholastica. The seminarians also explored the ancient library of the Abbey, where they viewed precious manuscripts, relics, and documents that testify to centuries of prayer, study, and preservation of knowledge. The visit concluded in the Abbey’s museum, where sacred art vividly expressed the harmony between faith, culture, and beauty across the ages.

The Abbey of Montecassino stands as one of the most important monastic sites in Christian history. Founded by Saint Benedict in the 6th century, it is regarded as the cradle of Western monasticism and a symbol of spiritual resilience, having been rebuilt several times after periods of destruction. Perched on a hill overlooking the surrounding valley, the Abbey continues to radiate a powerful witness to prayer, learning, and devotion, inspiring all who visit it to seek God through the Benedictine ideals of ora et labora-prayer and work.