After crossing the Tiber River over the Palatine Bridge, you come across a church, which has the smallest and oldest bell in Rome. But that's not all it has to offer—it was also the home of St. Benedict, a patron saint of Europe.
FR. INACIO ALMEIDA
Rector, Church of San Benedetto in Piscinula
Here, where this church is built, were the ruins of the house of the Anicia family, a noble family that St. Benedict was a descendant of. In fact, there are three popes who belonged to it; even a Roman emperor. This church was erected right where St. Benedict, the patron saint of Europe and the patriarch of Western Christian monasticism, lived for five years.
One of the popes belonging to this Roman family was St. Gregory the Great, who was referred to as a "biographer" of St. Benedict by other popes such as John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
POPE BENEDICT XVI
The most important source for his biography is the second book of the Dialogues, written by St. Gregory the Great, in which St. Benedict is presented as a "shining star" in the face of the crisis of values and institutions of his time.
At the entrance of the church, there is a small chapel, which has one of the original walls of the house that St. Benedict lived.
FR. INACIO ALMEIDA
Rector, Church of San Benedetto in Piscinula
And, right here, St. Benedict was converted. From this place, he went to Subiaco, where he founded the Benedictines. Thus, in the 6th and 7th centuries, began devotion to this place, which was the home of St. Benedict. First, a chapel was built and then this church, which belongs to about the 9th century. A church that is built with the remains of other churches. It can be seen in the columns, which are from the 4th century of other sacred temples of that time.
San Benedetto in Piscinula also has one of the oldest representations of this saint, where he appears in the habit of an oriental monk.
FR. INACIO ALMEIDA
Rector, Church of San Benedetto in Piscinula
As you can see, his habit is not black. The color is close to a light brown, like the oriental monks. It is also noticeable that his hood and the T-shaped staff have an oriental form.
This church was once under the care of the Benedictines and then of the Carmelite nuns. It is now run by a pontifical international institution called Heralds of the Gospel. They have a great devotion to St. Benedict since their first house in Brazil was dedicated to him.
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