Editing Benedict of Nursia (section)

==Influence==
[[File:2002 Austria 50 Euro Christian Religious Orders front.jpg|160px|thumb|right|[[Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Austria)#2002 coinage|Austria 50 euro 'The Christian Religious Orders' commemorative coin]]]]

The early Middle Ages have been called "the Benedictine centuries".<ref>{{cite web | title = Western Europe in the Middle Ages | access-date = 17 November 2008 | url = http://www.northern.edu/marmorsa/medievallec1.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080602064810/http://www.northern.edu/marmorsa/medievallec1.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2 June 2008}}</ref> In April 2008, Pope [[Benedict XVI]] discussed the influence St Benedict had on Western Europe. The pope said that "with his life and work St Benedict exercised a fundamental influence on the development of European civilization and culture" and helped Europe to emerge from the "dark night of history" that followed the fall of the [[Roman Empire]].<ref>Benedict XVI, "Saint Benedict of Norcia" Homily given to a general audience at [[St. Peter's Square]] on Wednesday, 9 April 2008 {{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20080409_en.html |title=? |access-date=4 August 2010 |archive-date=14 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714150153/http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20080409_en.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Benedict contributed more than anyone else to the rise of monasticism in the West. His Rule was the foundational document for thousands of religious communities in the Middle Ages.<ref>[http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/benedict.html  Stracke, Prof. J.R., "St. Benedict – Iconography", Augusta State University] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116014059/http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/benedict.html |date=16 November 2011 }}</ref> To this day, The Rule of St. Benedict is the most common and influential Rule used by monasteries and monks, more than 1,400 years after its writing.

A basilica was built upon the birthplace of Benedict and Scholastica in the 1400s. Ruins of their familial home were excavated from beneath the church and preserved. The [[October 2016 Central Italy earthquakes|earthquake of 30 October 2016]] completely devastated the structure of the basilica, leaving only the front facade and altar standing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://en.nursia.org/earthquake/ |title=Earthquake Blog - Monks of Norcia |access-date=2 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104010103/https://en.nursia.org/earthquake/ |archive-date=4 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Bruton, F. B., & Lavanga, C., [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/beer-brewing-monks-norcia-say-earthquake-destroys-st-benedict-basilica-n675536 "Beer-Brewing Monks of Norcia Say Earthquake Destroys St. Benedict Basilica"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108172104/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/beer-brewing-monks-norcia-say-earthquake-destroys-st-benedict-basilica-n675536 |date=8 November 2020 }}, [[NBC News]], October 31, 2016.</ref> 

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