
The Life of Our Most Holy Father St. Benedict (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Miracles, Visions, and Monastic Wisdom in Early Benedictine SpiritualityBy Saint Gregory the GreatLength5h 43m
About this audiobook
The Life of Our Most Holy Father St. Benedict, drawn from Book II of Gregory the Great's Dialogues, is a foundational work of Western hagiography and monastic memory. Through a sequence of miracles, temptations, prophetic visions, and acts of spiritual discernment, Gregory presents Benedict not merely as a wonder-worker but as the embodiment of ascetic wisdom and abbatial authority. Its lucid, dialogic prose reflects late antique Christian literary culture, where biography, moral instruction, and sacred history converge. Saint Gregory the Great, pope from 590 to 604, was uniquely equipped to write such a portrait. Born into a Roman senatorial family, he renounced civic ambition for monastic life before being drawn into ecclesiastical leadership. His own experience as monk, administrator, theologian, and pastor shaped his understanding of sanctity as disciplined humility joined to practical governance. In Benedict, Gregory found an ideal figure through whom to articulate the spiritual power of monastic obedience. This work is warmly recommended to readers interested in Christian spirituality, medieval monasticism, and the shaping of European religious imagination. It remains essential for understanding how holiness was narrated, remembered, and institutionalized in the early Middle Ages.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreSpirituality and Religion
Length5 hrs 43 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 9, 2022
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
26Chapter XX.
2Introduction
27Chapter XXI.
3Synopsis (Selection)
28Chapter XXII.
4Historical Context
29Chapter XXIII.
5Author Biography
30Chapter XXIV.
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6Introduction.
31Chapter XXV.
7Chapter I.
32Chapter XXVI.
8Chapter II.
33Chapter XXVII.
9Chapter III.
34Chapter XXVIII.
10Chapter IV.
35Chapter XXIX.
11Chapter V.
36Chapter XXX.
12Chapter VI.
37Chapter XXXI.
13Chapter VII.
38Chapter XXXII.
14Chapter VIII.
39Chapter XXXIII.
15Chapter IX.
40Chapter XXXIV.
16Chapter X.
41Chapter XXXV.
17Chapter XI.
42Chapter XXXVI.
18Chapter XII.
43Chapter XXXVII.
19Chapter XIII.
44Chapter XXXVIII.
20Chapter XIV.
45Chronology of the Life of the Most Holy Patriarch Saint Benedict
21Chapter XV.
46The Rule of Our Most Holy Father Saint Benedict.
22Chapter XVI.
47The Prologue of Our Most Holy Father Saint Benedict
23Chapter XVII.
48Chapter I.
24Chapter XVIII.
49Chapter II.
25Chapter XIX.
50Chapter III.