[3] Thus, integral to monastic formation is the understanding that a monastery forms its monks not just through formal education, studies and contemplative prayer, but also through service to others (liturgical, through manual labor, and through hospitality).

By the early 15th century, the number of Benedictine monasteries connected with the Archabbey of Monte Cassino varied in membership from very small to very large.

As such, a "Cassinese Benedictine Congregation" was formed in 1408 to affiliate those monasteries connected with the archabbey as a means of support and cooperation.

Therefore, on March 22, 1687, Pope Innocent XI founded a "Collegio Sant'Anselmo" for students from the Cassinese Benedictine Congregation that would reside initially at the Palazzo San Callisto in Rome's Trastevere section, and then later at the Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

On January 4, 1887, Pope Leo XIII issued a papal brief ("Quae diligenter") that formally commissioned the re-establishment of an international residential college in Rome to serve all Benedictine abbeys of the world.

[5][6] Housing for the reestablished "Collegio Sant'Anselmo" would become a critical challenge so the Benedictines began a search for more permanent accommodations.

Construction would begin in 1892 on a complex located on the Aventine Hill that would serve as a permanent home for the college, as well as house other Benedictine institutions.

Finally, in October 1896, the college (then composed of fifty-five students, seven professors, and five lay brothers) moved to its newly constructed residence at "Sant'Anselmo all'Aventino".

As one author noted, "the main purpose of Sant'Anselmo was and remained the training of young Benedictines in philosophy and theology".

[9] By 1914 at the start of the first world war, the college had eleven professors, seventy-five Benedictine students, six Cistercians, one Camaldolese, and one Olivetan.

On June 24, 1914, Pope Pius X issued a Motu proprio that formally granted Sant'Anselmo the right to confer doctoral decrees in Philosophy, Theology, and Canon Law with equal status to the other pontifical universities in Rome.

During the first world war, the Benedictines had been entrusted by the Vatican with the work on the new edition of the Latin Vulgate along with a continuing outreach to the ecumenical movement with the East.

Lambert Beauduin to recommit to Pope Leo XIII's original vision of Benedictines as a bridge to the Eastern Churches.

These post war years would also see the "International College of Sant'Anselmo (Collegium Internationale S. Anselmi de Urbe)" welcome for the first time not only students of other religious orders, but also diocesan clerics.

[13] Nonetheless, students would face difficulties as their home monasteries were closed, some were drafted into the war efforts of their countries, and tensions would rise.

In May 1952, the Abbot Primate also established the Monastic Institute (Latin: Studiorum Monasticorum Institutum) a part of the Department of Theology in an effort to further the teaching of Benedictine formators.

[15] Finally, on June 17, 1961, the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy (Latin: Pontificium Institutum Liturgicum) was formally established with its opening on December 9, 1961, and the appointment of Fr.

It is, rather, an international community of professors, officials, and students who follow a monastic rhythm of life to the extent that this is reconcilable with the main objective of the house, which is studies.

For five days of the week, supper takes place without conversation but with either public reading or recorded music during the meal.