"Listen carefully, my son, to the Master's
instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice
from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.
The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted
through the sloth of disobedience. This message of mine is for all, and armed
with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true king,
Christ the Lord."
(the Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue, verses 1-3)
"St. Benedict is the
Patron against poisoning. He is the founder of western monasticism and is
better known as Benedict of Nursia. His feastday is July 11. He is the twin
brother of Saint Scholastica. He studied in
Rome and dismayed at the lack of
discipline with fellow students went to live in a cave at Subiaco. He founded
a monastery at Monte Cassino where he wrote the rule for his order. Unhappy
with his efforts, some monks tried to poison him. They were not successful
because the Saint blessed the cup of wine before drinking it and the cup
shattered. Eventually he established twelve monasteries. He was born in Nursia
circa 480 and died March 21, 547.v"*