GREGORY: A certain noble man called Theoprobus was converted by the good counsel of holy Benedict. On account of his virtue and merit of life, he was very familiar with him. This man one day, coming into his cell, found Benedict weeping very bitterly. And having waited expectantly a good while, and yet not seeing him end (for the man of God used not in his prayers to weep, but rather to be sad), he demanded the cause of his great heaviness.
He answered straightway, saying, "All this Abbey which I have built, and all such things as I have made ready for my brethren, are by the judgment of almighty God delivered to the gentiles, to be spoiled and overthrown. I could but barely obtain of God to have the lives spared of those monks that should then be living in it."
The words Theoprobus then heard, we see to have been proved most true. We know the Abbey is now suppressed by the Lombards. For not long before, in the night time, when the monks were asleep, they entered in, and spoiled all things, but not one man could they keep there. Thus almighty God fulfilled what he promised to his faithful servant: for though he gave them the house and all the goods, yet he preserved their lives.
In which thing I see that Benedict imitated St. Paul: though his ship lost all its goods, he had the lives of all that were in his company given to him, so that none on board was cast away.
OSB Index | Gen. Information | Saint Benedict
