On July 11th, churches of the West celebrate the Feast of St. Benedict. Benedict (480-547) dwelt (according to tradition, at least) for years in a cave beside a lake below a mountain monastery, after abandoning a life of nobility and his studies in Rome. Upon the death of the abbot, the locals pleaded with Benedict to become the new head of the monastery. The monks, though, apparently didn’t really see eye to eye Benedict. They dropped a few hints about it by attempting to poison him on several occasions.

Benedict’s most celebrated act is developing his Rule, a sort of guidebook for his disciples on lives of Christian service and devotion.

Morning Prayers

To the Father, in whom we live,
To the Son, for whom we live,
To the Spirit, through whom we live,
Be honor and glory and allegiance –
As in ages past, so too in this moment,
And unto every age to come.

Prayer of Grains:

God, the world you birthed gives birth in turn.
Seeds which fall and settle in the ground
Break from fields and furrows and terraced hills,
In vibrant, rippling oceans of gold and green,
And spill onto tables as rice, or bread, or oats
(Which some turn into syrupy gruel, but each to their own).

Let your favor, o gracious God of seed and soil,
Rest on all whose tables hold the grains
Of your good earth, which gives to every soul,
To those we love, and those we have not met.

Personal prayers for others

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Readings:

As many of these scripture readings as you like can be read throughout the week. Since you won’t be tested on them, feel free to skip any if you prefer to read just a few or even one passage slowly and contemplatively.

Old Testament: Genesis 2;  Genesis 3
Psalms: Psalm 3 and Psalm 4
Gospel: Mark 1:12-20
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

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St. Benedict’s Prayer:

Gracious and holy God,
Give us wisdom to perceive you,
Intellect to understand you,
Persistence to seek you,
Patience to wait for you,
Eyes to gaze upon you,
Hearts to meditate on you,
And life to proclaim you,
By the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Master.

Our Father:

Our Father in the heavens,
May your name be sacred.
Your kingdom, let it come.
Your will, may it be done on the earth
As it is in heaven.
Give us what we need for today,
And forgive us what we owe,
As we forgive the debts of others,
And do not lead us into trial,
But rescue us from evil.

Evening Prayers

To the Father, in whom we live,
To the Son, for whom we live,
To the Spirit, through whom we live,
Be honor and glory and allegiance –
As in ages past, so too in this moment,
And unto every age to come.

Phos Hilaron:

Hail, gladdening light of the holy glory of the immortal Father:
The heavenly, holy and blessed Jesus, the Christ.
Having come to the sun's setting,
Having seen the evening light,
We praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God.
It is right you should be praised at all times and with fitting voices,
Son of God, the life-giver.
Therefore, the whole earth gives you glory.

Another Prayer of Benedict¹:

O Lord, I place myself in your hands and dedicate myself to you. 
I pledge myself to do your will in all things: 
To love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength...
To honor all persons. 
Not to do to another what I would not wish done to myself...
Not to seek after pleasures... 
To relieve the poor. 
To clothe the naked. 
To visit the sick... 
To help in trouble. 
To console the sorrowing. 
To hold myself aloof from worldly ways. 
To prefer nothing to the love of Christ... 
Not to foster a desire for revenge...
Not to return evil for evil. 
To do no injury: yea, even to bear patiently any injury done to me. 
To love my enemies. 
Not to curse those who curse me, but rather to bless them. 
To bear persecution for justice' sake...
To hate no one. 
Not to be jealous or envious of anyone. 
Not to love strife. 
Not to love pride. 
To honor the aged. 
To pray for my enemies. 
To make peace after a quarrel, before the setting of the sun. 
Never to despair of your mercy, O God of Mercy. 
Amen.

Our Father:

Our Father in the heavens,
May your name be sacred.
Your kingdom, let it come.
Your will, may it be done on the earth
As it is in heaven.
Give us what we need for today,
And forgive us what we owe,
As we forgive the debts of others,
And do not lead us into trial,
But rescue us from evil.

Benediction:

As you journey through these days,
May you be aware of the God who journeys with you,
The God who journeys with all,
In all times and all seasons.

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1. Selected phrases; found at EWTN Global Catholic Network, https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/prayer-of-saint-benedict-of-nursia-362