Abby of Monte Cassino

April 5, 2014

The Abbazia di Montecassino, or Abby of Monte Cassino, perched high on a mountain top, in the city of Cassino, is a working monastery and pilgrimage site but is open to visitors. Monte Cassino is famous as the scene of a huge battle near the end of World War II in which the abbey was completely destroyed from the bombing but it has since been rebuilt.

The Abbey on Monte Cassino was originally founded by Saint Benedict in 529, making it one of Europe's oldest monasteries. The abbey was built on remnants of Roman fortifications near the Temple of Apollo. The monastery became known as a center of culture and art.

Montecassino Abbey was destroyed by the Longobards around 577, rebuilt, and again destroyed in 833 by the Saracens. In the tenth century the monastery was again opened and was filled with beautiful manuscripts, mosaics, and works of enamel and gold. After being destroyed by an earthquake in 1349, it was reconstructed again with many additions.

During World War II the monastery became a refuge for civilians. On February 15, 1944, the monastery was bombed and completely destroyed, killing many civilians. The abbey was carefully reconstructed following the original plan and today it is hard to tell that it has been destroyed and rebuilt four times.

Today, Montecassino is a working monastery and continues to be a pilgrimage site by virtue of the surviving relics of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, his sister.

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The monk we talked to said at one time the abbey was a training center for 135 monks, but because of the "current religious crisis", only 10 monks are currently in training. 

Panel on door

Panel on door

Panel on door

John the Baptist baptizing Jesus

We asked the monk if we could have a picture with him and told him both of the men in our group were named Michael.  Immediately he became our best friend and removed the cord in front of the picture of Michael the Archangel and ushered them inside to have a picture taken. 

Shrine over tomb of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica.  During the war, artillery lodged in the tomb, but did not explode.

Statue of St Benedict and his sister St. Scholastica

Statue of St. Benedict