Joseph Ratzinger was born in Marktl in the German state of Bavaria.
Saint Benedict was a teenager when he became a monk
His father was a police officer and his mother’s family was originally from South Tyrol. His brother became a priest. His sister never married and managed his household until her death in 1991.
Joseph spent his teen years in Traunstein and was called at the age of 16 into the auxiliary anti-aircraft service towards the end of World War II.
Saint Benedict once lived in a hermit cave
Benedict died of natural causes, maybe a fever.
Scholastica, the founder of the Benedictine sisters, was Benedict’s sister
Saint Benedict is the patron saint of Europe and schoolchildren
Some monks tried to poison Benedict
There is a medal named after Benedict
His teaching methods were very harsh
He gave up his rich inheritance to become a follower of Jesus
