St. Benedict of Nursia

Protector of Europe. July 11

St. Benedict was born around the year 480 in the region of Nursia, His wealthy parents sent him to Rome for his education, but he couldn’t stay there for long’ ’cause-the social setting and the dissolute life of his comrades did not suited him.
Despite not having finished his studies, he decided to isolate himself first to Affile a village amongst the mountains of Rome and then to Subbiaco where He met ‘Romano, a monk that dressed Him up with a monastic habit and directed him to an impervious grotto the grotto of the Taleo Mount where he led his life as a hermit for about 3 years until the year 500.
After the hermit experience He decided to become a guide to some monks, but after an attempt of poisoning he back ‘to Subbiaco where he remained for 30 years. By creating a community of ’13 monasteries under his spiritual guidance.
After another attempt of poisoning, St. Benedict went to Cassino, where He founded the Monastery of Montecassino on the ruins of ancient pagan temples. On the altar of Apollo built the chapel in honor of St. John the Baptist, while the temple dedicated to Jupiter became the oratory of monks dedicated to Saint Martin de Tours

After a life dedicated to preaching the Word of the Lord” and” at the guidance of the monastic community, St. Benedict was born in heaven on the 21 March 547.

The Miracles

The first miracle of St. Benedict was when he moved with his nurse to Affile, He rejoins a crock that she had broken. This event makes so many people rush from the village and the young Benedict was forced to take refuge in a cave as a hermit.Other miracles followed in the life of the Holy servant of God :
He procured ‘prodigiously-water on top of a mountain to quench Monks, allowed a monk to walk on water to save a boy that was about to drown. In the autumn of 542 the king Totila put Him to the test, sending a servant dressed as a king, but St. Benedict unmasked him and at the encounter with the real King predicted him that he would have reigned 9 years and the tenth would have be dead.
He also predicted the destruction of his monastery, but he was granted the grace of the Lord to save the lives of the monks .He foiled ‘the attempt to be poisoned by tracing the sign of the Cross on the glass vessel which contained the poisonous beverage, and the container broke into pieces.

The Benedectine Rule

In the monastery of Monte Cassino around 450, St. Benedict wrote his Rule””, the Organisation to the smallest details of life of the monks.

The main features are: obligation to reside for life in the monastery itself (helping to prevent homelessness), good moral conduct, mutual piety and obedience to the abbot.
The monks’ day is marked by prayer and work” Ora et Labora”: pray and work.
The abbot has the authority-’the monastery but also monastic confederations are organized.
The Cross of St. Benedict
The origins of the medal of St. Benedict is very ancient, Pope Benedict XIV designed it and in the year 1742 approved the medal granting indulgences to those who carry it with faith.
Around the coin are minted these words: “EIUS IN OUR OBITU PRESENTIA MUNIAMUR” (We can be protected by His presence at the hour of our death). The devotion of the Medal or Cross of St. Benedict, became popular around 1050, after the miraculous healing of the young Bruno, recovered from a serious illness after he was given the medal of St. Benedict. After healing, he became a Benedictine monk and then Pope St. Leo IX, who died in 1054St. Benedict is also invoked as the patron of a happy death. Knowing the date and exact time of his death, he died standing up praying, after receiving the Eucharist. Then he appeared to St. Gertrude, saying: “Whoever I remember the dignity with which the Lord has honored me and beatificarmi, allowing me to make a death so glorious, I will be helping the faithful at death and I will oppose all attacks enemy in this decisive hour. The soul will be protected by my presence would keep calm, despite all the pitfalls of the enemy, and happy, will go for the eternal joys “..

Each letter in this inscription on the medal is part of a powerful exorcism:

C. S. P. B.
Crux Sancti Patris Benedecti
The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict
C. S. S. M. L.
Sacred Sit Mihi Lux Crux
The Holy Cross be my light
N. D. S. M. D.
Not draco sit mihi dux
The devil is not my leader
V. R. S.
Retro Vadre Satan
Go away Satan!
N. S. M. V.
Suad Numquam Mihi Vana
Do not attract me with your vanity
S. M. Q. L.
Mala sunt Quae Libas
Your drinks are bad
I.V. B.
Ipse Venena Bibas
Drink yourself your poisons

(Sign of the Cross) In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER TO ST. 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.

NOVENA TO ST. BENEDICT

Glorious St. Benedict who taught us the way to religious perfection by the practice of self-conquest, mortification, humility, obedience, prayer, silence, retirement and detachment from the world, I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take my present need under your special protection (mention here). Vouchsafe to recommend it to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace to one day meet God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the angels and saints to praise Him through all eternity. O most powerful Saint Benedict, do not let me lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace of winning my way to heaven, there to worship and enjoy the most holy and adorable Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory Be.

The protection of St. Benedict is particularly effective against the attacks of evil, in his mortal life, St. Benedict,had to fight many times  with the infernal enemy who seemed to him as a black bird and tried to scare him with incessant harassment.

His best defense was the  prayer, the faith and trust in the Lord, the  perseverance in doing good, the practice of justice and love. A holy life causes on the one hand the enmity of the devil, but on the other hand is the best defense against him, because where there is God, by His grace, the terrible enemy cannot come to dominate.

THE LITANY OF ST. BENEDICT

Lord, have mercy on us, Christ, have mercy on us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray for us.
Holy Father, Saint Benedict, Pray for us.
Father most reverend, Pray for us.
Father most renowned, Pray for us.
Father most compassionate, Pray for us.
Man of great fortitude, Pray for us.
Man of venerable life, Pray for us.
Man of the most holy conversation, Pray for us.
True servant of God, Pray for us.
Light of devotion, Pray for us.
Light of prayer, Pray for us.
Light of contemplation, Pray for us.
Star of the world, Pray for us.
Best master of an austere life, Pray for us.
Leader of the holy warfare, Pray for us.
Leader and chief of monks, Pray for us.
Master of those who die to the world, Pray for us.
Protector of those who cry to thee, Pray for us.
Wonderful worker of miracles, Pray for us.
Revealer of the secrets of the human heart, Pray for us.
Master of spiritual discipline, Pray for us.
Companion of the patriarchs, Pray for us.
Equal of the prophets, Pray for us.
Follower of the Apostles, Pray for us.
Teacher of Martyrs, Pray for us.
Father of many pontiffs, Pray for us.
Gem of abbots, Pray for us.
Glory of Confessors, Pray for us.
Imitator of anchorites, Pray for us.
Associate of virgins, Pray for us.
Colleague of all the Saints, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

V. Intercede for us, O holy father Saint Benedict,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray: O God, Who hast called us from the vanity of the world, and Who dost incite us to the reward of a heavenly vocation under the guidance of our holy patriarch and founder, Saint Benedict, inspire and purify our hearts and pour forth on us Thy grace, whereby we may persevere in Thee. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.