Atop a small grassy hill adjacent to the Abbey Church stands this 1000-pound bronze sculpture of Saint Benedict. The work of artist Simon Kogan, it was dedicated during Saint Martin’s 1995 Centennial year celebration. It depicts a middle-aged Benedict walking through a meadow, en route to found a new monastic community. In his hands, he carries a copy of his “Rule for Monasteries,” and on his left shoulder rests a raven. Legend has it that Benedict’s enemies tried to murder him with poisoned bread, but the raven took the bread from his hand to a place where it could harm no one.

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