To begin we will first talk a brief moment about the area and the many constructions and destructions that took place in this specific area of Italy.  The first construction of the Abbey Montecassino took place in the year 529 AD.  This building would eventually be destroyed in 577 AD.  Throughout all of history the structure known as the Abbey Montecassino has been built five times and destroyed four different times.  Due to these facts it would be impossible to cover the entire history in one brief episode on this website.  That is why we will not be traveling down that road.  Instead, all you need to know is that there is plenty of history that took place in building Abbey of Montecassino as well as the destructions of it.  Thus, we will move on to discover some of the reasons the building was built, who played major influences in the construction of the original Abbey Montecassino (529 AD construction), and a little bit about those individuals.

    If you have looked ahead to my sources, you will have found out the major individual who had a significant influence on the original construction of the Abbey of Montecassino.  The Abbey was founded by none other than St. Benedict.  What is interesting is that this was not the first major structure to stand at his exact spot.  The temple dedicated to Apollo originally stood in the same area as the present Abbey now stands.  The original of the Abbey Montecassino site included an oratory, or a place of prayer, which constructed and dedicated in honor of St. Martin of Tours.  This first site of the Abbey also contained monastic community buildings and a sacrificial altar as well.  The sacrificial alter was located towards the top of the mountain next to the Abbey.  Here they would make sacrifices to their God.  Next we will move on to learn more about the founder of this amazing place, St. Benedict.

    St. Benedict was born around the year 480 AD. He did obtain formal education at an early age in his home town of Norcia. Rome is currently a major center for culture, technology, and education in Italy.  It was no different during his time period as well.  St. Benedict finished his primary studies in his home town and sought after further education which he found in Rome, Italy.  He soon realized he could not be apart of the current system in Rome and decided to seclude himself in Affile with several priests. In many of the texts it is said that St. Benedict performed miracles such as restoring broken tools, such as earthenware, to perfect condition.  However, I believe as wide spread as some of these "legends" are I believe that they are in fact legends.  In either way, St. Benedict found him self becoming more and more isolated from the rest of the world.  In doing so he kept to himself pondering about religious topics.  Passing shepherds actually took to his teachings and were some of the students which progressed the Benedictine order.

    Becoming more known for his teachings and "miracles" Benedictine was sought after by many communities.  One such community was that of Vicovaro, which they desired him to be their abbot.  An abbot is the superior at a monastery in charge of teachings and the monastery as a whole.  This did not work out because of an attempt on his life by another monk, most likely to due jealousy.  Instead he started twelve monasteries and sent two monks educated from his teachings to serve at each monastery.  This is one of the major ways that St. Benedict teachings spread so rapidly, knowing that more monasteries meant that more individuals could be reached and his teachings would spread.  He also created another monastery for monks who needed more education before staying at one of the twelve main monasteries.

    After increasing in popularity and having a wide spread influence on many monks and monasteries he decided to construct the Abbey of Montecassino. All of the events in his life lead him to the ideologies that he held when he made this decision. His life events, in essence, pushed him toward this final goal of creating a place where he can reflect on his spiritual thoughts, teach, and pray in a place where he is accepted.  This is the reason that it has become the most famous abbey in mainland Europe.  He had passion to evangelize the local people, who in his eyes practiced pagan rituals.  While staying at the Abbey of Montecassino he wrote his most famous piece of work, The Benedictine Rule.  This was his message, his teachings, which he desired to spread to the world.  He accomplished many things throughout his life, which I believe all lead to him building the original Abbey of Montecassino.
                                                                                                                                                            








Pictures:

Picture #1 - The Montecassino Abbey before the last destruction occurred.  Accessed on 6 November 2008. Originally located at The Abbey of Montecassino. 

Picture #2 - The Present Day Montecassino Abbey Rebuilt.  Accessed on 6 November 2008.  Originally located at Wikipedia Images.

Resources:

Primary:

The Rule. Benedict, Saint. Early Manuscripts at Oxford University.  Corpus Christi College MS. 197.  Link.

Secondary:

Abbey Montecassino Informative Website, accessed on 5 November 2008.  Link.

Notes:

Primary: The primary source used in this episode was The Rule by St. Benedict.  I thought that this source was extremely relevant because he wrote it at
the Abbey of Montecassino.  Every event in his life led to this monastery and what he believed in.  I also believe that this text is a culmination of his life work.

Secondary: This website is an official website of the Abbey.  It had a lot of information pertaining to the history behind the abbey as well as information regarding
the past states of the abbey as well as the current state.  It also had an extremely informative section on St. Benedict, the founder.  Overall, it was a great source
of information.