Reassurance For The Monks Of Benedict's Community example essay topic

Monte Cassino proved to be a most difficult location for Benedict's new monastic community as many obstacles and impediments were cast in his path along the way to success. But Benedict was able to overcome each obstacle found in his path and became a better man because of his troubles and eventual triumph. The first of Benedict's plights on the way to the founding of Monte Cassino proved to be a slight obstacle, but a foreshadow of what was to come. Benedict's monks had been hard at work building cells in the abbey of the community, in the way of the continuance of the building was a large rock. The monks tried and tried to remove the rock with their own strength, but the rock simply would not budge.

The reason for this hardship was simple in the eyes of the monks; the devil was hard at work. They then sent for the man of God, Benedict. With a simple blessing Benedict was able to dislodge the rock, making it quite easy for the monks to continue the building of the cells. Not only did this help in the actual physical building of the community, but it also gave the monks a glimpse of what was to come and a reinforced faith in their God and their leader. After this first obstacle it was clear that there were many more to follow.

During the next stage of the building process the monks were hard at work building a particular higher. Benedict at the time was praying to God, when all of a sudden the Devil appeared to him and told Benedict that he was going to the monks. The monks unaware of this message continued to work when the next crisis occurred. The newly finished wall was toppled, and landed on a young child, who was a monk, instantly crushing him to death. The monks thinking this was an accident, reported the terrible news to Benedict. Benedict, a man of God, then bade the monks to bring the boy, in whatever state, to him.

The monks obeying Benedict, did this and left Benedict to his prayers, and in that very hour, through prayer Benedict was able to revive the boy and set him and his monks back to work on the toppled wall! This recent triumph of Benedict not only proved to his monks that he was indeed an incredible man of God, but it also proved to them that through the help of God Benedict would protect his monks and his community for the of the evil that is the Devil. One of the final obstacles Benedict had to overcome came in the disguise of a famine. This famine plagued the entire countryside near Benedict's community.

As this famine persisted the monks began to grow restless and downtrodden. When Benedict saw this he gently rebuked his monks and promised them plenty of food the next day. Sure enough when the monks woke up the next day there were hundreds of bushels of wheat waiting for them. Once again Benedict was able to overcome another obstacle thrown at him. This last triumph is another reassurance for the monks of Benedict's community. It shows that through help from God, Benedict will be able to provide for his monks, and his community.

Through all of these struggles Benedict shows his ability to triumph in any situation with the help of God. Benedict was able to conquer any and all obstacles thrown in his path. This success shows Benedict's ability to take charge in any situation and his ability to gain the faith and trust of his fellow monks which will one can see will lead to the huge success and triumph of Benedict's community.