existing orders and today number about 8,400 men and 16,800 women. They are active in most countries of the world.
Unlike
the Franciscans, Dominicans and Jesuits, whose structures
are highly centralised,
Benedictines live in communities that are autonomous and
only loosely associate with one another. In Australia
there are three Benedictine monasteries for men and three
for women. New Norcia is the only one in Western
Australia.
Benedictines seek to live a way of life established in Italy in the sixth century by St Benedict. As a young man, Benedict became disillusioned with the world, and chose to live as a hermit in a cave at Subiaco, near Rome. After this period of isolation, he set about developing a regular, disciplined and prayerful way of life for people seeking God in a community. In old age he wrote down his practical arrangements for the living of monastic life as a Rule or guidebook for his followers.
After his death communities following his Rule sprang up all over Europe. The subsequent history of Benedictine monasticism is marked by many changes. However, the wise, gentle Rule of Benedict survived and is followed today at New Norcia.
