What Does “Benedictine” Mean in the Bible?
Office or title
A monk or nun who lives by the Rule of Saint Benedict: to pray and to work.
It can mean
- Their rule: the Rule of Saint Benedict, which says how to pray, work, and live together in the monastery.
- Who guides them: an abbot, elected by the monks.
- Their vows: they live in community and promise God chastity, poverty, and obedience.
Where it appears in the Bible
Acts 2:42; Acts 2:44
What the Bible says
Acts 2:42
And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:44
And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: RAE, “benedictino”; Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Rule of Saint Benedict”; Catechism 915 and 925