An Enigma: The Legend of Saint Benedict

This chapter introduces a few key features of Saint Benedict’s life and death, considering the historical process by which he became known as Monte Cassino’s ‘animus’ and ‘anchor’ – the abbey’s spirit and foundation. This line of enquiry means asking how his influence spread, shaped, and fostered the abbey’s reputation as a centre of spiritual, religious, and intellectual culture. It also means considering the contested narratives surrounding his possible translation, in addition to the many discoveries of his relics and their contribution to the entrenched historiography.