Saint Benedict with the open door in resin.
Saint Benedict was born on March 24, 480, in Nursia, Italy. The family sent him to Rome to complete his studies. Disappointed with the city's lifestyle, he took refuge in a cave on Mount Subiaco for three years, where he dedicated himself to reflection. He founded the Benedict Order whose motto is “Ora et Labora”, which in Portuguese translates as “Pray and Work”. He is the Father and Patron Saint of Europe and the Patriarch of the Monks of the West. The Sanctuary of São Bento da Porta Aberta had its origins in a hermitage built in 1640, and the name comes from the fact that the hermitage always had its doors open, giving shelter to travelers.
