March 21 and July 11: Saint Benedict

PRAYER TO SAINT BENEDICT

O glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of God’s grace!

Behold me, humbly kneeling at thy feet. I implore thy loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God.

To thee I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate thee in all things.

May thy blessing be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the occasions of sin.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need, in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life.

Thy heart was always so full of love, compassion, and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way.

Thou didst never dismiss without consolation and assistance any one who had re-course to thee.

I therefore invoke thy powerful intercession, in the confident hope that thou wilt hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I so earnestly implore (mention it), if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of my soul.

Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.Amen.

SAINT BENEDICT

St. Benedict, born in 480 A.D., was the founder of western monasticism and is renowned for his power against the Devil.

St. Benedict was also a great miracle worker, as many books document. In particular, we recommend The Life of St. Benedict by Pope St. Gregory the Great.

He is a powerful patron that we need today when impurity, apostasy and infidelity inundate the earth.

St. Benedict died March 21, 543, as he stood before the altar of Monte Cassino immediately after receiving Holy Communion.

St. Benedict is easily one of the greatest saints of all time.