Short term effects of Benedict's work: St Benedict’s Rule made an important change in religious history.It influenced the Catholic church and Western Europe."The order of Saint Benedict" was organized,because of the change he created in monastic life. He had found 12 monasteries in areas of Subiaco and eventually found the "Great Benedictine monastery" at Monte Cassino, which lies on a hilltop between Rome and Naples . The Rule had taught all Christians in Europe to live a communal life , to exhibit qualities of obedience and humbleness and to always do prayer. Isolated monks could organize themselves better to form a community and could be more practical in life. St Benedict did not have any problems while setting up his groups of monasteries.
So many disciples were attracted to Benedict's holiness and so many monks wanted him to become their abbot.He also trained many novices who had turned out to be successful monks.
Long term effects of Benedict's teachings Even today, the Benedictine teachings have been a guide to the church at its difficult times. Benedict's teachings are relevant today, because people often tend to be very impatient, when it comes to focusing on work. People need to take time to pray and reflect every day, in order to be calm.
The influence of Benedict’s teachings have led to the establishment and development of Monastic schools and also the establishment of Benedictine churches. Today more than 25,000 Benedictine men and women around the world follow the Rule of Benedict. His feast day is March 21.An example of modern influence is the association of Benedictine colleges and universities. Universities that are part of the association take the gospel values in St Benedict’s Rule seriously. The values taken seriously are-
· The importance of god and the belief that there is god in everything.
· The formation of Christian communities to share prayers and thoughts and to do communal worship.
· Developing an awareness of the meaning of one’s existence.
· Showing good care towards other beings.
· Promoting the goodness of the church and society.
Universities that are member of the association include St Peter’s college in Canada and the Benedictine university in Illinois.
In Sydney, there is a Benedictine monastery in Arcadia. Their main goal is to live like St Benedict and care for and support each other in a community.
There is the World community for Christian meditation in different places around the world that organizes meditation groups for people from different localities. Like Benedict, these meditation groups believe that meditation is a path to communicating with god and reaching discipline. Forming groups are ways of doing communal worship.