Product Information:
- Finely crafted statue of St Benedict measures 12" (H)
- Made of resin; hand-painted colors and flowing lines
- Delicate features throughout including his facial expression, fingers, robe and pastoral staff
- He is the patron saint of Europe and students.
- St. Benedict is often pictured with a bell, a broken tray, a raven, or a crosier. His feast day is celebrated on July 11.
According to the Catholic Church, a "saint" is anyone in heaven whether recognized on Earth or not, who form the "great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). They may have not always lived perfect lives but "amid their faults and failings they kept moving forward and proved pleasing to the Lord".
In one story of Benedict's life, a poor man came to the monastery begging for a little oil. Although Benedict commanded that the oil be given, the cellarer refused -- because there was only a tiny bit of oil left. If the cellarer gave any oil as alms there would be none for the monastery. Angry at this distrust of God's providence, Benedict knelt down to pray. As he prayed a bubbling sound came from inside the oil jar. The monks watched in fascination as oil from God filled the vessel so completely that it overflowed, leaked out beneath the lid and finally pushed the cover off, cascading out on to the floor.
In Benedictine prayer, our hearts are the vessel empty of thoughts and intellectual striving. All that remains is the trust in God's providence to fill us. Emptying ourselves this way brings God's abundant goodness bubbling up in our hearts, first with an inspiration or two, and finally overflowing our heart with contemplative love.