Overview

St. Benedict of Norcia (480-547) is indisputably one of the most influential figures in the development of the culture and spirituality of Western Europe and is recognized as the """"patriarch of all monks of the West."""" Shortly after Benedict's death, his monastery at Monte Cassino was destroyed by Lombard invaders. It was at that point that one of the greatest mysteries of medieval monasticism arose--the true location of the mortal remains of this revered saint. This volume presents the first English translations of key medieval texts relating to this famous mystery. These piquant narratives are filled with adventure, intrigue, and spellbinding wonder, in which imagination, history, folklore, and legend are freely intertwined. Within these pages, the reader will encounter fierce barbarian hordes, perilous quests to discover ancient tombs, ferocious dragons, man-eating wolves, mysterious visions, and enigmatic oracles. Here will be found tales of saints fleeing from papal forces under the shroud of darkness, phantasmagoric apparitions of dead monks, malicious poisonings, nocturnal attacks made on infants by venomous toads, levitating lamps, and a veritable multitude of other marvels. A translation of the striking account of St. Benedict's life from the thirteenth-century Golden Legend is also included.

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9781666737424

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Robert Nixon, experienced investigator of Latin church arcana, here translates two key documents in the long-running mystery of the (re)location of St. Benedict's body (which unresolved controversy became a venerable part of the Benedictine heritage). He does not adjudicate the rival claims but offers us an illuminating glimpse into a remarkable and colorful world of medieval legend, marvel, and intrigue. One sighs for this enchanted realm, a conspiration of heavenly and cosmic realities. --Anna M. Silvas, University of New England Robert Nixon has been performing remarkable service in recent years through a stream of elegant translations of Latin works otherwise unavailable in English. Here he provides the first English translation of two contradictory and charming legends, from the ninth century and the twelfth, about the relics of Saints Benedict and Scholastica, along with a fine introduction. They will be of interest to devotees of these saints and to those interested in medieval hagiography. --Paul Chandler, Holy Spirit Seminary

"""Robert Nixon, experienced investigator of Latin church arcana, here translates two key documents in the long-running mystery of the (re)location of St. Benedict's body (which unresolved controversy became a venerable part of the Benedictine heritage). He does not adjudicate the rival claims but offers us an illuminating glimpse into a remarkable and colorful world of medieval legend, marvel, and intrigue. One sighs for this enchanted realm, a conspiration of heavenly and cosmic realities."" --Anna M. Silvas, University of New England ""Robert Nixon has been performing remarkable service in recent years through a stream of elegant translations of Latin works otherwise unavailable in English. Here he provides the first English translation of two contradictory and charming legends, from the ninth century and the twelfth, about the relics of Saints Benedict and Scholastica, along with a fine introduction. They will be of interest to devotees of these saints and to those interested in medieval hagiography."" --Paul Chandler, Holy Spirit Seminary"

Robert Nixon, experienced investigator of Latin church arcana, here translates two key documents in the long-running mystery of the (re)location of St. Benedict's body (which unresolved controversy became a venerable part of the Benedictine heritage). He does not adjudicate the rival claims but offers us an illuminating glimpse into a remarkable and colorful world of medieval legend, marvel, and intrigue. One sighs for this enchanted realm, a conspiration of heavenly and cosmic realities. --Anna M. Silvas, University of New England Robert Nixon has been performing remarkable service in recent years through a stream of elegant translations of Latin works otherwise unavailable in English. Here he provides the first English translation of two contradictory and charming legends, from the ninth century and the twelfth, about the relics of Saints Benedict and Scholastica, along with a fine introduction. They will be of interest to devotees of these saints and to those interested in medieval hagiography. --Paul Chandler, Holy Spirit Seminary

"""Robert Nixon, experienced investigator of Latin church arcana, here translates two key documents in the long-running mystery of the (re)location of St. Benedict's body (which unresolved controversy became a venerable part of the Benedictine heritage). He does not adjudicate the rival claims but offers us an illuminating glimpse into a remarkable and colorful world of medieval legend, marvel, and intrigue. One sighs for this enchanted realm, a conspiration of heavenly and cosmic realities."" --Anna M. Silvas, University of New England ""Robert Nixon has been performing remarkable service in recent years through a stream of elegant translations of Latin works otherwise unavailable in English. Here he provides the first English translation of two contradictory and charming legends, from the ninth century and the twelfth, about the relics of Saints Benedict and Scholastica, along with a fine introduction. They will be of interest to devotees of these saints and to those interested in medieval hagiography."" --Paul Chandler, Holy Spirit Seminary"

Author Information

Robert Nixon is a Benedictine monk of the Abbey of the Most Holy Trinity, New Norcia, Western Australia, a Roman Catholic priest, and a pianist and composer. His roles include director of the New Norcia Institute for Benedictine Studies, as well as dean and liturgy coordinator for the monastic community. He has contributed articles on medieval Latin poetry to the Revue bénédictine and the American Benedictine Review.

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