Saint Benedict, a Mystic or a Monk?

Using a descriptive-analytical method, this study helps us to gain a deep understanding of Benedict‘s monasticism and it makes explicit his relation with Christian mysticism in order to have a clear idea about this aspect of Catholic Christianity. The paper deals with character of the father of Christian monasticism in the West, i.e. Saint Benedict of Nurcia (480-547), by referring to his book of Rules.This paper first gives a clear account of Benedict and then investigates his mysticism. To this end, it includes, in addition to the definition and a review of the main components of mysticism and monasticism also the two main elements of mysticism in the teachings of Benedict, i.e. mystical vision of God and tendency towards unity, are examined and proved. Finally, given the relationship between mysticism, monasticism and the views of Benedict’s followers and commentators of Benedict’s “rules", the author concludes that the definition of "mystic" applies to the monastic Benedict.