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.
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
Also known as
- Petronax of Brescia
- Second Founder of Monte Cassino
Profile
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
