Today, we remember...



Saint Benedict
Founder of Western Monasticism
Patron of Europe

With jubilation of the voice, O chant ye of our Father Benedict: The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom. For wisdom hath built up a throne for herself in the bosom of the righteous man. And his tongue shall speak of judgment, seeing the Logos-teaching Pneumatos bedeweth the hidden places of his heart; for the law of his God is in his heart.

(Ps 36:33,34, trope "In jubilo" from the complete Old Sarum Rite Missal)

A Prayer to Saint Benedict:

Glorious Saint 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 owrk 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 petition}

Help me, great Saint 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.

Here is the saint's greatest work, entirely online: The Holy Rule of Saint Benedict.

Sancte Benedicte, ora pro nobis.

We also remember...



Saint Oliver Plunkett
Irish Archbishop and Martyr

Saint Oliver, pray for us.