HOW MAURUS WALKED UPON THE WATER

THE DIALOGUES OF SAINT GREGORY, SURNAMED DIALOGUS AND THE GREAT, POPE OF ROME AND THE FIRST OF THAT NAME.

CHAPTER SEVEN: HOW MAURUS WALKED UPON THE WATER.

On a certain day, as venerable Bennet was, in his cell, the foresaid young Placidus, the holy man's monk, went out to take up water at the lake, and putting down his pail carelessly, fell in himself after it, whom the water forthwith carried away from the land so far as one may shoot an arrow. The man of God, being in his cell, by and by knew this, and called in haste for Maurus, saying: "Brother Maurus, run as fast as you can, for Placidus, that went to the lake to fetch water, is fallen in, and is carried a good way off."

A strange thing, and since the time of Peter the Apostle never heard of! Maurus, craving his father's blessing, and departing in all haste at his commandment, ran to that place upon the water, to which the young lad was carried by force thereof, thinking that he had all that while gone upon the land: and taking fast hold of him by the hair of his head, in all haste he returned back again: and so soon as he was at land, coming to himself he looked behind him, and then knew very well that he had before run upon the water: and that which before he durst not have presumed, being now done and past, he both marvelled, and was afraid at that which he had done.

Coming back to the father, and telling him what had happened, the venerable man did not attribute this to his own merits, but to the obedience of Maurus: but Maurus on the contrary, said that it was done only upon his commandment, and that he had nothing to do in that miracle, not knowing at that time what he did. But the friendly contention proceeding of mutual humility, the young youth himself that was saved from drowning did determine: for he said that he saw when he was drawn out of the water the Abbot's garment upon his head, affirming that it was he that had delivered him from that great danger.

PETER: Certainly they be wonderful things which you report, and such as may serve for the edification of many : for mine own part, the more that I hear of his miracles, the more do I still desire.

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Life of St. Benedict - Part V

At Monte Cassino Benedict founded his new monastery, but not without difficulties.  There at Monte Cassino, was a temple to Apollo at which some people still worshiped as did their ancestors.  Benedict destroyed the temple and cut down their sacred groves.  In place of this, he erected a chapel that he dedicated to St. Martin and at the spot where the altar of Apollo stood, he constructed a chapel in honor of St. John the Baptist.  Gradually he won over the people of that area over to the worship of the true God.

Miracles attributed to Benedict at Monte Cassino include:  the restoring of life and health to a young monk who had been crushed by a falling wall, knowledge of things that happened when individuals were not in his presence, driving out of an evil spirit, the ability to foresee the future, and restoring life to a man’s son.

Life of St. Benedict, Part IV

Envy and jealousy was just as rampant in Benedict’s day as in our own.  Due to this, a priest in a neighboring church set out to undermine Benedict’s work.  However, Benedict’s reputation for holiness continued to grow as did the number of those gathering around him to lead the monastic life.  The priest himself longed to enjoy a same reputation but was not of the mind to live a similar way of life. 

Unable to thwart Benedict, he decided to give Benedict a poisoned loaf of bread under the guise of friendship.  Benedict, however, was instantly aware of the poison it contained and gave it to a raven to dispose of where it would bring harm to no one.  About three hours later the raven returned to Benedict who fed it as he normally did each day.

Unable to destroy Benedict, the priest tried instead to destroy the community by sending “seven depraved women into the garden of Benedict’s monastery.  There they joined hands and danced together for some time within the sight of his followers, in an attempt to lead them into sin.”  (Life and Miracles of St. Benedict, page 24.)

Realizing that the priest’s hatred for him was at the root of this last action, Benedict made up his mind to leave with a few monks to begin afresh.  Before leaving he took care to reorganize the monasteries he had founded.

Hardly had Benedict quit that district when the priest was crushed to death while standing on the balcony of his house when it collapsed.  Maurus, who had remained behind, quickly sent a messenger with the news and the suggestion that Benedict return since the priest was dead.  Benedict was saddened at the news, even more so that one of his disciples should rejoice at it. 

Life of St. Benedict, Part III

As Benedict’s holiness of life became more and more know, men gathered around him to imitate his was of life and dedicate themselves to God.  At Subiaco, Benedict would eventually establish twelve monasteries, with an abbot and twelve monks in each, with himself overseeing them all. 

It was at Subiaco that two pious noblemen brought him their sons to be schooled in the service of God.  The names of the boys were Maurus and Placid.  It is related that once while Benedict was in his cell,  he was instantly aware that young Placid, who had gone to get water at the lake, had fallen in and was carried by the current out about a stone’s throw.  He called quickly to Maurus who ran out to carry out Benedict’s command.  When he reached the water’s edge he did not stop running, but continued to run over the surface of the water just as if it were dry ground until he reached Placid and grasping him by the hair, rushed back with him to shore.  It was only when he was once again on dry land that he realized he had run over the surface of the water.

As St. Gregory relates, “Overcome with fear and amazement at a deed he (Maurus) would never have thought possible, he returned to his abbot and told him what had taken place.  The holy man would not take any personal credit for the deed but attributed it to the obedience of his disciple.  Maurus on the contrary claimed that it was due entirely to his abbot’s command… While they were carrying on this friendly contest of humility, the question was settled by the boy who had been rescued.  ‘When I was being drawn out of the water,’ he told them, ‘I saw the abbot’s cloak over my head; he is the one I thought was bringing me to shore.’”  (Life and Miracles of St. Benedict, pages 21-22.)

Life of St. Benedict, Part II

            On his way to Subiaco, Benedict encountered the monk Romanus who gave him the monastic habit.  On certain days, Romanus provided him with food that he lowered to Benedict’s cave with a long rope with a small bell attached to it.  Of this St. Gregory writes:  “The ancient enemy of mankind grew envious of the kindness shown by the older monk in supplying Benedict with food, and one day, as the bread was being lowered, he threw a stone at the bell and broke it.  Yet in spite of this, Romanus kept on with his faithful service.”  (Life and Miracles of St. Benedict (Book Two of the Dialogues) by Pope St. Gregory the Great, translated by Odo J. Zimmermann, OSB and Benedict R. Avery OSB, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, Pg. 5.)

The abbot died at a monastery in the locality and the monks turned to Benedict asking him to be their abbot.  Benedict, realizing that his way of life would not match theirs, tried to discourage them in their request.  They were persistent and so he acquiesced.  What Benedict realized from the outset eventually became apparent with the monks trying to poison him.  As St. Gregory shares, “As he made the sign of the Cross over it with his hand, the pitcher was shattered even though it was well beyond his reach at the time.  It broke at his blessing as if he had struck it with a stone.  Then he realized it had contained a deadly drink which could not bear the sign of life.  Still calm and undisturbed, he rose at once and after gathering the community together addressed them.  ‘May almighty God have mercy on you,’ he said.  ‘Why did you conspire to do this?  Did I not tell you at the outset that my way of life would never harmonize with yours?  Go and find yourselves an abbot to your liking.  It is impossible for me to stay here any longer.’  Then he went back to the wildness he loved."  (Life and Miracles of St. Benedict, pages 10-11.)

Life of St. Benedict

In our Fatima Chapel (used by our retreatants), there is a series of stained glass windows that depict the Life of St. Benedict.  One good way to begin our posts is to share something about his life using these windows and relying on Book II of the Dialogs of St. Gregory. 

We hope you enjoy this first installment!

           

The founder of western monasticism, St. Benedict, was born in 480 at Nursia, Italy.  It is not clear if his family was of nobility, but they had the means to send him to Rome for classical studies.

About age 20 and distraught over the behavior of some of his classmates, Benedict left Rome in the company of his housekeeper abandoning family, home and inheritance.  The two settled in a town of Enfide about 40 miles from Rome and two miles from Subiaco. 

It was at Enfide that Benedict worked his first miracle.  It seems that his housekeeper borrowed a sieve (or wheat-sifter) and that fell and broke in two pieces.  The housekeeper was deeply upset because the borrowed implement was now broken.  Benedict quietly took the two pieces and gave himself over to prayer.  At the end of his prayer the sieve was whole without indication where the break had been.  When news of the miracle spread, Benedict quietly slipped away from his housekeeper and sought a place of solitude.