| Saint Benedict —
Patron Saint of Farmers,
Farm Workers, Schoolchildren "St.
Benedict the twin brother of Saint Scholastica. In the fifth century, the young
St. Benedict was sent to Rome to finish his education with a nurse/housekeeper,
but was dismayed by the lack of discipline and the lackadasical attitude of his
fellow students. Afraid for his soul, St. Benedict fled Rome, gave up his inheritance,
and lived in a small village with his nurse. Then to the mountains near Subiaco,
living as a hermit in a cave for three years. After
years of prayer, word of his holiness brought nearby monks to ask for his leadership.
He founded the monastery at Monte Cassino, where he wrote the Rule of his order.
His discipline was such that an attempt was made on his life when some of the
monks tried by poison him. He blessed the cup and rendered it harmless. He returned
to his cave, but continued to attract followers, and eventually established twelve
monasteries. St. Benedict was said to have the ability to read consciences, prophesy,
and forestall attacks of the devil. He destroyed pagan statues and altars, drove
demons from groves sacred to pagans. At one point there were over 40,000 monasteries
guided by the Benedictine Rule. In one story of St.
Benedict's life, a poor man came to the monastery begging for a little oil. Although
St. Benedict commanded that the oil be given, the cellarer refused - because there
was only a tiny bit of oil left. The cellarer thought that if he gave any oil
as alms, there would be none for the monastery. Angry at this distrust of God's
providence, St. Benedict knelt down to pray. As he prayed a bubbling sound came
from inside the oil jar. The monks watched in fascination as oil from God filled
the vessel so completely that it overflowed, leaked out beneath the lid and finally
pushed the cover off, cascading out on to the floor. St.
Benedict died in 547 while standing in prayer before God. A summation of St. Benedict's
Rule is: 'Pray and work.'"
Prayer to
Saint Benedict
"Admirable Saint and Doctor of Humility, you practiced
what you taught, assiduously praying for God's glory and lovingly fulfilling all
work for God and the benefit of all human beings. You know the many physical dangers
that surround us today, often caused or occasioned by human inventions. Guard
us against poisoning of the body as well as of mind and soul, and thus be truly
a 'Blessed' one for us. Amen."
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 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
petition) Help me, great St. 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." |
