Saint Benedict ( c.480-c.550) Feast Day 11th July

The only recognized authority for the facts of Saint Benedict life is book 2 of the Dialogues of Saint Gregory 1.

He was born of a noble family of Nursia and sent to Rome to be educated. Shocked by the behaviour of Rome he ‘retired’ as a young man to Enfide ((modern Affile) to live as a hermit. He isolated himself in a mountain cave and he daily hauled food up . The food was provided by the monk Romanus. When the fame of his sanctity spread he was encouraged to become an abbot at one of the monasteries.
Here, because of his asceticism (self denial) and tales of being a miracle worker, he attracted disciples. He set up 12 monasteries around the place.

He then abandoned the area - stories of jealousy and an attempt on his life. He moved to southern Italy, towards Naples and established the famous abbey of Monte Cassino.

It was here that he wrote his famous * Rule of Saint Benedict* which contained precepts for his monks. Although known by his name it was influenced by the writings of John Cassian, and showed close affinity with the Rule of the Master.
Even if this is the case Michael David Knowles in ‘Britannica Online Encyclopedia’ says *It was the Rule of St, Benedict, derived from various and disparate sources , that provided for the monastic way of life a directory at once practical and spiritual that continued to force after 1500 years.

It was further developed to offer hospitality, medical, educational and agricultural skills to the world.

Apparently Saint Benedict was never a priest.
*
He is a patron saint of Europe.

Sources used
Britannica Online Encyclopedia
wikipedia
Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton