WELCOME! THE SYLVESTRINES The Sylvestrines are a minor monastic Order or, strictly speaking, congregation following in general the Rule of Saint Benedict but distinct from the Black monks and not forming a part of the confederation of Benedictine congregations. The Sylvestrines were founded by Saint Sylvester Gozzolini on Monte Fano near Fabriano in 1231. The Rule of Saint Benedict was observed in its primitive form, but in many points the founder went considerably beyond it in point of austerity, laying special stress on the strictest observance of poverty. At the death of Saint Sylvester in 1267 eleven monasteries were under his leadership of which some had been founded by him, while others, though of older foundation, had adopted his institute. The congregation had been formally sanctioned by Innocent IV twenty years before the founder's death. Except for a few houses in Portugal and Brazil and a foundation in Ceylon [Sri Lanka], the...