The reputation of St. Benedict attracted the noblest families in Rome to Subiaco in order to commit the education of their children to him. Placidus was brought to St. Benedict when he was no more than seven. One day, as Placidus was fetching some water in a pitcher, he fell into the lake of Subiaco. St. Benedict who was in the monastery knew of the accident and called brother Maurus to run after him. Maurus begged his blessing, ran to the lake, and walked upon the water to the place where Placidus was floating and taking hold of him by the hair returned to land. It was only afterwards that he realized he had walked on water. St. Benedict ascribed this miracle to the disciple’s obedience. St. Placidus was eventually made abbot of a new colony in Sicily. He had not lived many years there when a pagan barbarian with a fleet of pirates from Africa landed in Sicily and out of hatred of the Christian name, and the religious profession of these servants of God, put St. Placidus and his fellow-monks to the sword and burnt their monastery about the year 546.