14k Saint Benedict and Holy Cross Drop Necklace PendantKeeping You Protected Saint Benedict was born around 480 AD in Italy, into a noble family. He was educated in Rome but was dismayed by the city's decadence and moral decay. To protect his morality, Benedict withdrew from the corrupt society of Rome and retreated to the wilderness, living as a hermit. Benedict's reputation as a holy man grew, and others began to seek his guidance. He wrote a set of guidelines for monastic life known as the "Rule of