vendredi 6 mai 2016

Saint PETRONAX du MONT-CASSIN, moine et abbé bénédictin, fondateur

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Saint Pétronax

Abbé bénédictin au Mont-Cassin ( 747)

Né à Brescia (Italie), il est appelé le "deuxième fondateur de Mont-Cassin". En 717, y faisant un pélerinage à la demande du pape Grégoire II, il trouva le monastère en ruines, il restait seulement quelques ermites qui l'élirent leur supérieur. Grâce à des donations, il restaura le monastère de saint Benoît et lui redonna la vigueur d'antan.

Saint Willibald, évêque d'Eichstatt, et saint Sturm de Fulda furent moines sous son autorité.


Petronax of Monte Cassino, OSB Abbot (AC)

Born at Brescia, Lombardy, Italy; died c. 747. Just as the English monks suffered the depredations of marauders from Scandinavia, so the monastery of Monte Cassino had been grievously ruined when Lombards invaded that part of Italy in 581. Scarcely a stone stood on another in 717 when Petronax was induced by Pope Saint Gregory II to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Benedict and visit the fallen monastery with the view of restoring cenobitical life at the monastery.


Petronax found a few hermits there, who elected him their superior. Other disciples soon gathered around them. The saint determined to raise Monte Cassino to its old glory. Generous nobles, especially the duke of Beneventum, and three popes supported this effort. From Pope Zachary he obtained the rule of the monastery, written in Saint Benedict's own hand. The pope also gave him the monastery's old measure for bread and wine. Before Petronax died, Benedict's monastery on Monte Cassino was reborn, its old vigor restored. Saint Willibald, bishop of Eichstätt, and Saint Sturmius of Fulda were both monks under Petronax, the 'second founder of Monte Cassino' (Benedictines, Bentley, Coulson, Walsh).

St. Petronax of Monte Cassino

Petronax is considered to be the second founder of the Monastery Abbey of Monte Cassino, initially established by St. Benedict of Nursia.

A native of Brescia, Petronax was encouraged by Pope St. Gregory II to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Benedict in the year 717. There, among the ruins of the old monastery destroyed by the Lombards in 581, he found a few hermits. These solitaries elected Petronax superior, and other disciples soon gathered.

With the help of prominent nobles, especially the Duke of Benevento, and with strong backing from three popes, Petronax rebuilt Monte Cassino. Under the new abbot’s lengthy and energetic rule the community thrived once again, regaining its old eminence. Saints, and prominent men of all kinds, sought the hospitality of the great Benedictine abbey.

Petronax led the community until his death about the year 747.

Saint Petronax of Monte Cassino

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Benedictine monk at Brescia, Italy. Abbot. On assignment from Pope Gregory II in 717, he re-built, re-staffed and re-invigorated the monastery at Monte Cassino, Italy following the Lombard invasions that had left the place damaged and deserted. He served as abbot there, and by the time of his death, the abandoned structure was a center for learning and holiness again. Spiritual teacher of Saint Willibald and Saint Sturmius of Fulda.

Born
  • c.747 of natural causes