Benedictine

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St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-543), detail from a fresco by Fra Angelico, San Marco, Florence (c. 1400-1455).

For other uses, see Benedictine (disambiguation).

Benedictine (adj.) refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the autonomous communities of monks founded by him in central Italy.

Used as a noun, the term denotes their members, the Benedictines. By extension it is sometimes applied to other adherents of the Benedictine spirituality, e.g. "Oblates (secular)".

During the subsequent centuries many more Benedictine communities were founded, not only for monks but also for nuns, first throughout Europe and eventually also overseas, which led to the formation, in modern times, of the so-called Order of St Benedict. In addition to those autonomous Benedictine communities, a number of independent monastic orders were founded on the rule of St Benedict and therefore are also considered Benedictines. Such orders include the Congregation of Cluny, the Cistercians, and the Trappists. Benedictine communities are primarily found in the Catholic Church but several Benedictine communities are found among separated ecclesial communities.

In the English Reformation all monasteries were dissolved and their lands confiscated by the Crown, forcing their Roman Catholic members to flee into exile on the Continent, although during the 19th century they were able to return to England. Since the Oxford Movement there has been a flourishing of Benedictine monasticism in the Anglican Church and other Christian Churches. Some Anglican Benedictine Abbots are welcomed guests of the Roman Catholic Benedictine Abbot Primate at Abbatial gatherings.