The Benedictines, officially known as the Order of Saint Benedict (Latin: Ordo Sancti Benedicti, abbreviated as OSB), constitute a monastic religious community within the Catholic Church, dedicated to following the Rule of Saint Benedict. They are occasionally referred to as the "Black Monks" due to the color of their distinctive religious attire. The origins of this order can be traced back to 529 when Benedict of Nursia, a 6th-century monk, established the foundational principles of Benedictine monasticism by formulating his Rule. Despite being labeled as an "order," the Benedictines do not function under a centralized hierarchy. Instead, they are structured as a collection of independent monasteries. The Benedictine Confederation, founded in 1893, serves as the international representative body for the order, addressing common concerns and interests. Unlike other religious orders with a central authority figure, the Benedictines do not have a superior general or a single motherhouse with universal jurisdiction. Instead, they elect an Abbot Primate to represent their collective interests to the Vatican and the wider world.

Benedictines - Wikipedia