HWP: St. Benedict

St. Benedict, taken at St. Meinrad Archabbey

Tomorrow (July 11) is the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia (or Norcia), the founder of western monasticism and essentially the father of western civilization as we know it today since our culture was held together and pushed forward by monks and people formed in such communities. Benedictines and other communities who live by the Rule of St. Benedict will be celebrating with great joy his feast tomorrow, many of them welcoming new postulants and novices, and others witnessing the profession of vows of their brothers and sisters. What joy! To celebrate this great saint, whose impact on my own vocation cannot be understated, why not offer a pray for his intercession. The prayer below includes a space for your own intention. If you don't have a particular intention, you could simply offer it for Benedictines around the world. I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers and they continue to offer prayers for all of us throughout their days. 

Prayer to St. Benedict

Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God's grace! Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God. To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me. Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbor. Inspire me to imitate you in all things. May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work for His kingdom.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces which I need so much in the trials, miseries, and afflictions of life. Your heart was always full of love, compassion, and mercy toward those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you. I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I earnestly implore (mention your favor).

Help me, great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the sweetness of His loving will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.