A fresco that tells a story.

Saint Benedict founds the twelve monasteries in a scene of the great Renaissance cycle of frescoes by "Il Sodoma" in the abbey of Montoliveto Maggiore in Tuscany. It is interesting to notice how he is portrayed in a white habit because Montoliveto is an Olivetan abbey - an order that has its roots in the Benedictine rule and Benedict is obviously seen not only as the father of the main Benedictine order but also of all its branches such as the Circecians, Trappists, Camaldolese, Olivetans, etc. the latter use a white habit. I wanted to choose this picture to celebrate the life of this great saint of the church for the impact he had on all of western monasticism.