Know the prayer of Saint Benedict!

Saint Benedict is one of the best known saints of the Catholic Church. A great example of perseverance and faith, he is always remembered when the faithful need to obtain some grace or get rid of some evil.

Thus, Saint Benedict has numerous prayers, both to ask for more protection, resolution of problems, deliverances against envy, etc. Meet below, one of the best known prayers of this saint.

"Let the holy Cross be my Light. Let not the dragon be my guide. Remove from me Satan. Never counsel me vain things. It is of evil what you offer me. Drink yourself of your poison. Pray for us Blessed Saint Benedict, that we may be worthy of Christ's promises. Amen."

"Crux sacra sit mihi lux. Non draco sit mihi dux. Vade retro satana. Nunquam suade mihi vana. Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas."

Getting to know São Bento

Saint Benedict is also much loved in Europe, after all he is the patron saint of this region. Besides that, he is also the protector of architects. The requests for intercession for this saint are the most diverse possible. From protection against robberies, to solving family fights, mainly due to alcohol.

If you are really interested in finding out more about this powerful saint, read on and find out all about his history and understand what he represents to his faithful. See.

Origin and history

Saint Benedict was born in Italy, in the region of Umbria, in the year 480. Coming from a noble family, he moved to Rome when he was still young to study philosophy. It was there that Benedict met a hermit who passed on all his knowledge to him.

The man took Benedict to a holy cave, where he began to devote himself to prayer and study, staying there for about 3 years. During this period, Saint Benedict had no contact with anyone, apart from the hermit, who helped him with supplies. The story that there was a holy man alone in the cave, soon spread, starting to attract the attention of people who passed by to ask for prayers.

It was then that Benedict was invited to be a member of the convent of Vicovaro. He accepted. However, he did not stay there long because he believed that the monks did not really follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Because of this, he came to be seen in a negative way by some religious.

One day, he was given a poisoned cup of wine. As usual, Benedict blessed the drink, and then the cup broke. It was then that he realized that he would be poisoned, and so he asked God's forgiveness and then withdrew from the convent.

Over the years, Benedict managed to found 12 monasteries, which were very successful. In addition, St. Benedict wrote a book in which there were some rules for those who actually wanted to follow a monastic life. Thus, the Order of Benedictines arose, which exists to this day. His death occurred in the year 547, at 67 years old, and his canonization came in 1220.

Visual features of Benedict of Norcia

Considered by many as the father of the monks, Saint Benedict has strong visual characteristics. His black cassock represents the so-called Benedictine Order, which was founded by him. Thus, the cassock of this color is used until today in his monasteries.

As you saw earlier, during his time in the convent of Vicovaro, St. Benedict tried to change the behavior of the monks, because he believed that they lived a life of few sacrifices.

However, instead of being grateful and following his teachings, the monks tried to kill him with a poisoned cup of wine. As you have already discovered in this article, after blessing the drink, the cup broke, and Saint Benedict understood what had happened.

On the other hand, the book in the saint's hands symbolizes the rules written by him, so that the monks of his Order would follow it. The book has 73 chapters, and has as its theme "Ora et Labora", which in Portuguese means "Pray and Work". These teachings continue to be propagated until the present day by the Benedictine Order.

Saint Benedict also carries a staff in his hand, which refers to the image of the saint as a father and shepherd. This is because when he founded his Order, the saint became the father of countless monks, who followed in his footsteps for life. In addition, the staff is also a symbol of authority.

In the image of Saint Benedict we can still see him making a gesture with his hands, which is the representation of a blessing. This happens because, by following the advice of the Bible which says: "Do not repay evil for evil, nor injury for injury. On the contrary, bless, for to this you have been called, that you may be heirs of the blessing" (1 Peter 3,9), Saint Benedict was able to get rid of his attempt at poisoning.

Finally, his long, white beard is the symbol of all his wisdom, which inspired him to create the Benedictine Order, an Order that has helped thousands of people all over the world.

What does São Bento represent?

The representation of Saint Benedict is linked against any kind of evil. That's why he is often resorted to by people who suffer from envy, black magic, addictions, among others. Thus, Saint Benedict, along with his powerful medal, are reputed to destroy any kind of enemy trap.

Because of these facts, it is also believed that anyone who wears his medal gains the intuition necessary to identify envious people, and consequently be able to get away from them. This is due to the fact that the saint was famous for being telepathic. It was believed that he was able to read thoughts.

His gesture of making the sign of the cross over the chalice of any liquid is also very well known. Thus, he believed that if there was any poison there, the chalice would be broken (as in fact happened once). In this way, the cross was always for him a representation of protection, salvation and affirmation of the life of Jesus Christ.

Celebrations

Saint Benedict's Day is celebrated on July 11, so on this date there are many celebrations in honor of the saint, especially in places where he is patron saint. In Santos, for example, there is the traditional festival of Saint Benedict, in which he is patron saint of the hill that bears his name.

Thus, in the Chapel Nossa Senhora do Desterro, together with the Museum of Sacred Art, some special masses occur in that day, in commemoration to this date. There have already been years in which the party counted on the special participation of residents of the hill, with the right of presentation of the samba school Unidos dos Morros, where the hymn in honor to São Bento was played.

After the mass, there is usually a procession, distribution of blessed bread, sale of cake, medals, among other things. The celebrations usually begin with 3 days of prayers. In the city of São Francisco do Conde, mainly in the neighborhood of São Bento de Lajes, tributes are made to the saint with triduum and masses.

Salvador is also another place where many celebrations in honor of Saint Benedict take place. The faithful usually bring personal objects to the mass to be blessed. And so, there are many more celebrations in honor of this saint all over the world.

The Rule of St. Benedict

The Rule of St. Benedict is a book that was written by himself, after the saint has started the creation of some monasteries. With 73 chapters, the book has the purpose of passing instructions for a monastic life. Thus, it was still possible to be created the so-called Benedictine Order, which exists until today, where the monks follow the rules of the book of St. Benedict.

With the main motto of "Ora et Labora" (Pray and Work), Saint Benedict left to the world the message that prayer has the power to feed the spirit, and to give meaning to everything that exists in the world, while work has the objective of occupying the mind and causing development. In addition, its fundamentals also prioritize recollection, silence, obedience and charity.

The Saint Benedict Medal Cross

The medal of Saint Benedict is considered by the religious a very powerful "weapon" against all the evils of the enemy. Thus, it is a great ally in the fight against envy, curses, black magic, addictions, misunderstandings, among other things.

On the back of the medal it can be observed the following sayings: "Eius in obitu nostro presentia muniamur". (May at the hour of our death, protect us Your presence). On some medals it can also be found: "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti", or "Sanctus Benedictus".

On the other side, written in each of the four corners of the cross, one can see the following words: "C. S. P. B. Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" (Cross of the Holy Father Benedict).

On its vertical side is: "C. S. S. M. L. Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux" (May the Holy Cross be my light). On the horizontal side is: "N. D. S. M. D. Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux" (May the devil not be my guide).

In its upper part we see: "V. R. S. Vade Retro Satana" (Get away Satan)." N. S. M. V. Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana" (Don't advise me vain things). "S. M. Q. L. Sunt Mala Quae Libas" (It's bad what you offer me)." I. V. B. Ipse Venena Bibas" (You drink your own poison). And finally, the words: "PAX" (Peace). In some medals we can still find: "IESUS" (Jesus).

Novena of Saint Benedict

Like any novena, the novena of Saint Benedict has special prayers for 9 consecutive days, so you can do it whenever you are in need of grace, whatever it may be, for yourself, for a friend, for a relative, etc.

Like St. Benedict and his medal, this novena is also very powerful. You can and should also resort to it if you are going through some turbulence, or being a victim of enemies' snares. Follow along below.

Day 1

Before understanding the sequence of each day of the novena to St. Benedict, it is essential that you know some important prayers that will be repeated during the 9 days.

They are:

Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict: Let the Holy Cross be my light, let not the dragon be my guide. Withdraw, Satan! Never advise me vain things. It is bad what you offer me, drink your poison yourself!

Prayer for any grace: O glorious patriarch Saint Benedict, who always showed yourself compassionate to the needy, grant that we too, by recourse to your powerful intercession, may obtain help in all our afflictions.

May peace and tranquility reign in families, may all misfortunes, both corporal and spiritual, be removed, especially sin. Obtain from the Lord the grace we implore you, obtaining for us at last that, at the end of our life in this vale of tears, we may praise God with you in Paradise.

Pray for us, glorious patriarch Saint Benedict, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

Litany of St Benedict: Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy Christ, hear us Christ, hear us Christ, attend to us God, Father in heaven, have mercy on us

Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God, Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Glory of the Patriarchs, pray for us. Compiler of the Holy Rule, pray for us. Portrait of all the virtues, pray for us. Example of Perfection, pray for us.

Pearl of Holiness, pray for us. Sun shining in the Church of Christ, pray for us. Star shining in the house of God, pray for us. Inspirer of all the Saints, pray for us. Seraphim of fire, pray for us.

Transformed cherub, pray for us.

Author of wondrous things, pray for us. Master of devils, pray for us. Model of the Cenobites, pray for us. Destroyer of idols, pray for us. Worthy of the confessors of the faith, pray for us.

Comforter of souls, pray for us.

Help in tribulations, pray for us. Holy blessed Father, pray for us. Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, forgive us Lord! Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, attend to us Lord!

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord! Let us take refuge under your protection O Holy Our Blessed Father. Do not despise our needs and tribulations. Help us in the fight against the evil enemy and, in the name of the Lord Jesus, obtain for us eternal life.

V. He is blessed by God. R. He who from heaven defends all his children.

Concluding Prayer: O God, who made the Abbot Saint Benedict a distinguished teacher in the school of Your service, grant that, preferring nothing to Your love, we may run with enlarged hearts in the way of Your commandments. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Now that you know the prayers that will be repeated throughout the days, you can understand how the sequence of the novena works.

First day

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

To follow Jesus is to commit oneself.

"As Jesus was passing by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew; they were throwing their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.' They immediately left their nets and followed Jesus" (Mk 1:16-18).

4 - Reflection:

The call of the first disciples is an open invitation to all who hear the words of Jesus. Simon and Andrew leave their profession, for following Jesus implies leaving the securities that might hinder commitment to transformative action.

5 - Litany of St. Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict:

The first degree of humility is prompt obedience, peculiar to those who love nothing above Christ (...).

This same obedience will only be worthy of God's acceptance and gentle to men if the command is carried out without delay, without hesitation, without sluggishness, without murmuring or any word of resistance (...).

If the disciple obeys unwillingly and murmurs, even if he does not do so with his mouth, but only in his heart, even if he carries out the command received, his work will not be pleasing to God, who sees the inmost of hearts; and far from obtaining any grace by such action, he will incur the penalty of murmurers if he makes no reparation and does not correct himself (chap.5, Obedience).

7 - Concluding clause.

Day 2

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

Jesus rejects easy popularity.

"Early in the morning, when it was still dark, Jesus got up and went to a deserted place to pray. Simon and his companions went after Jesus, and when they found him, they said, 'Everyone is looking for Thee.' Jesus answered, 'Let us go to other places, to the villages around; I must preach there also, for that is why I came.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons" (Mk 1:35-39).

4 - Reflection:

The desert is the starting point for the mission.

Jesus encounters the Father who sends him to save men, but he also encounters temptation: Peter suggests that Jesus takes advantage of his popularity in one day. It is the first dialogue with the disciples and we can already see the tension.

5 - Litany of Saint Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict:

When we have something to request of powerful men, we approach them with humility and respect. With how much greater reason should we present our supplications with all humility and purity of devotion to the Lord God of the Universe!

Let us know that it is not by a multitude of words that we will be answered, but by the purity of our heart and the compunction of our tears. Prayer should therefore be short and pure, unless, perhaps, it is prolonged by affection inspired by divine grace. But in community, let the prayer be short, and when the superior gives the signal, let all stand up at the same time (chapter 20, reverence in prayer).

7 - Concluding Prayer.

Day 3

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

"A leper came to Jesus and asked on his knees, 'If You will, You have the power to cleanse me.' Jesus was filled with anger, reached out His hand, touched him and said, 'I will, be cleansed.' At the same instant, the leprosy disappeared and the man was cleansed.

Then Jesus sent him away at once, threatening him sternly: 'Tell no one anything! Go and ask the priest to examine you, and then offer for your purification the sacrifice that Moses commanded, that it may be a testimony to them.

But the man went away and began to preach much and to spread the news. So Jesus could no longer enter a town publicly; He stayed outside in deserted places. And from everywhere people came looking for Him" (Mk 1:40-45).

4 - Reflection:

The leper was marginalized, having to live outside the city, away from social life, for hygienic and religious reasons (Lev 13:45-46). Jesus is angry against a society that produces marginalization. Therefore, the healed man must come forward to bear witness against a system that does not heal, but only declares who can or cannot participate in social life.

The marginalized now become living witnesses who announce Jesus, the One who purifies. And Jesus is outside the city, a place that becomes the center of a new social relationship: the place of the marginalized is the place where the Lord can be found.

5 - Litany of Saint Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict:

Sleep in one bed each.

They are to have their beds according to the profession of the monk and according to the orders of the abbot. If it is possible, they are all to sleep in the same place, but if the great number does not allow it, they are to sleep ten or twenty together, having with them older monks to watch over them. A lamp is to illuminate the dormitory without interruption until dawn.

The monks shall sleep clothed, girded with their girdles or cords, but they shall have no knife at their side, lest they injure themselves while they sleep and always be ready, and thus, given the signal, they shall rise without delay, hasten to one another and anticipate each other in the divine office, but with all gravity and modesty.

Let the younger brothers not have beds together, but interspersed with those of the older ones. When they rise for the divine office, let them awaken one another sparingly, so that those who are sleepy will have no excuse (ch. 22, the sleep of the monks).

7 - Concluding Prayer.

Day 4

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

Jesus rejects social hypocrisy.

"Jesus went out again to the seashore. All the crowds were going out to meet Him, and He was teaching them. As He was walking along, Jesus saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax collector's. So He said to him, 'Follow Me.' Levi got up and followed Him. Later, Jesus was eating at Levi's house.

There were several tax collectors and sinners at the table with Jesus and His disciples; indeed, there were many who followed Him. Some of the teachers of the law, who were Pharisees, saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors. So they asked the disciples, 'Why does Jesus eat and drink together with tax collectors and sinners?'

Jesus listened and replied, "People who are healthy do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners" (Mk 2:13-17).

4 - Reflection:

The tax collectors were despised and marginalized because they collaborated with the Roman domination, collecting taxes and, in general, taking advantage to steal. Jesus breaks the social schemes that divide men into good and bad, pure and impure.

By calling a tax collector to be His disciple, and eating with sinners, He shows that His mission is to gather and save those whom hypocritical society rejects as evil.

5 - Litany of St. Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict:

Let great care be taken that this vice of ownership be rooted out in the monastery. No one is to dare to give or receive anything without the permission of the abbot, nor possess anything of his own, nothing at all, neither a book, nor a writing tablet, nor a stylus.

In a word: nothing, since it is not lawful for them to have even their own body or their own will at their discretion. But they must expect from the father of the monastery all that they need.

Let no one possess what is not given to him by the abbot or permitted by him to possess. Let everything be common to all, as it is written, and let no one dare to make any object his own, not even by word of mouth.

If anyone is led into such a detestable vice, he will be warned the first and second time. If he does not make amends, he will be subjected to correction (ch.33, if monks should have anything of their own).

7 - Concluding Prayer.

Day 5

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

"One Sabbath day Jesus was passing through some wheat fields. The disciples were making their way and plucking the ears of grain. Then the Pharisees asked Jesus, 'See, why are your disciples doing what is not permitted on a Sabbath day?'

Jesus asked the Pharisees, 'Have you never read what David and his companions did when they were in need and hungry? David entered the house of God at the time when Abiathar was High Priest, ate of the loaves offered to God and gave them also to his companions. Yet only the priests may eat of these loaves.'"

Jesus added, "The Sabbath was made to serve man and not man to serve the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even on the Sabbath" (Mk 2:23-28).

4 - Reflection:

The center of God's work is man, and to worship God is to do good to him. It is not a matter of narrowing or enlarging the Sabbath law, but of giving a totally new meaning to all the structures and laws that govern human relationships, because only what makes man grow and have more life is good.

Every law that oppresses man is a law against God's own will and must be abolished.

5 - Litany of St. Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict.

First and foremost, one should care for the sick, who should be served as if they were Christ himself (...).

On their part, let the sick consider that they are served in honor of God and not grieve, with superfluous demands, the brothers who serve them. However, the sick should be borne with patience, for through them a greater reward is acquired.

The abbot therefore watches over them with all diligence, lest they suffer any negligence.

Let there be a separate cell for the sick, and a God-fearing, diligent, and solicitous brother to serve them.

The use of the baths shall be known to the sick as often as is convenient, but to those who are in health, especially the young, be it seldom granted.

Let the sick and the weak be allowed to eat meat, but as soon as they recover, they will return to their usual abstinence.

Let the abbot therefore take the greatest care that the storekeepers and the nurses neglect nothing in the service of the sick, for he is responsible for all the faults that his disciples may incur (ch. 36, of the sick brothers).

7 - Concluding Prayer.

Day 6

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

"At this the mother and brothers of Jesus arrived; they stood outside and sent for Him. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, so they said to Him, 'Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside and looking for you.' Jesus asked, 'Who are My mother and My brothers?"

Then Jesus looked at the people sitting around him and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers; whoever does the will of God, that is My brother and sister and mother'" (Mk 3:31-35).

4 - Reflection:

While the family according to the flesh is "outside", the family according to the commitment of faith is "inside", around Jesus.

His true family is made up of those who carry out, in their own lives, the will of God, which consists in continuing the mission of Jesus.

5 - Litany of Saint Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict:

Although man, already by nature, is led to compassion towards these two ages, old age and childhood, the authority of the rule must also intervene with regard to them.

Let their weakness always be kept in mind, therefore, and let not the strictness of the rule regarding food be maintained with regard to them; but let merciful condescension be used on their behalf, allowing them to bring forward the regular hours of meals (ch.37, of the elderly and children).

7 - Concluding Prayer.

Day 7

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

The mystery of Jesus' mission

"When they were alone, those around Him and the twelve, asked Jesus what the parables meant. He said to them:

'To you the mystery of the kingdom of God has been given; to those outside, everything takes place in parables, so that they may look, but not see; hear, but not understand; so that they may not be converted and be forgiven'" (Mk 4:10-12).

4 - Reflection:

The parables are stories that help to read and understand the whole mission of Jesus. But it is necessary to "be in", that is, to follow Jesus to realize that the Kingdom of God is drawing near through His action.

Those who do not follow Jesus remain "on the outside" and can understand nothing.

5 - Litany of Saint Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict:

The life of a monk should be at all times an observance of Lent; but since this perfection is found only in a small number, we exhort the brothers to maintain a very pure life during the days of Lent and to erase on these holy days all the negligence of other times, which we will do worthily by abstaining from prayer with tears, from reading, from compunction of the heart and fromabstinence.

Let us therefore, in these days, add something to our usual charge: private prayers, some privation in eating and drinking, so that each one, of his own free will, offers to God, in the joy of the Holy Spirit, something more than he is commanded, that is, let him mortify his body in eating, in drinking, in sleep, in freedom of speech and in joviality, and, let him await Holy Easter with thejoy of an all-spiritual desire.

However, each one must tell his abbot what he wishes to offer, so that everything will be done with his consent and the help of his prayers, because whatever is done without the permission of the spiritual father will be considered as presumption and vainglory and will have no reward.

Let everything, then, be done with the abbot's approval (ch. 49, observance of Lent).

7 - Concluding Prayer.

Day 8

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

The scandal of the incarnation

"When the Sabbath came, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished and said, 'Where did He get all this wisdom?

Is not this man the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joset and Judas and Simon? And do not his sisters dwell here with us?' And they were scandalized because of Jesus. Then Christ said to them that a prophet is not esteemed only in his own country, among his relatives, and in his family.

Jesus could not perform any miracles in Nazareth; he only healed some of the sick by laying his hands on them, and he was amazed at their lack of faith" (Mk 6:1-6).

4 - Reflection:

The countrymen of Jesus are scandalized, they do not want to admit that someone like them could have wisdom superior to that of professionals and perform actions that indicate the presence of God. For them, the obstacle to faith is the incarnation: God made man, situated in a social context.

5 - Litany of Saint Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict:

A prudent old man who knows how to receive and pass on messages, and whose maturity does not allow him to wander, is to be placed at the door of the monastery. The doorkeeper is to be lodged near the door, so that those who arrive will always find him there to answer them.

As soon as someone knocks or a poor person calls, he will answer: 'Deo gratias' or 'Benedicite'. With all the meekness that comes from the fear of God, respond with promptness and fervent charity. If the doorkeeper needs help, a younger brother should be sent to him.

If possible, the monastery should be built in such a way that all the necessary things, that is, water, mill, kitchen garden, workshops and the various trades, are exercised within the monastery, so that there is no need for the monks to go out and wander about outside, which in no way suits their souls.

We wish this rule to be frequently read in the community, so that no brother may make excuses under the pretext of ignorance (ch.66, from the porter of monasteries).

7 - Concluding Prayer.

Day 9

1 - Prayer of the medal of Saint Benedict.

2 - Prayer to obtain any grace.

3 - God's Word:

The mission of the disciples

"Jesus began to go about the neighborhoods teaching in the villages. He called the twelve disciples, began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over evil spirits. Jesus recommended that they carry nothing on the way but a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their waistbands. He commanded them to walk in sandals and not to carry two tunics.

And Jesus said to them, 'When you enter a house, stay there until you leave; and if you are unwelcome in a place and the people do not listen to you, when you leave, shake the dust off your feet in protest against them. Then the disciples went out and preached that people might be converted; and they cast out many demons and healed many who were sick, anointing them with oil" (Mk 6:6b-13).

4 - Reflection:

The disciples are sent to continue the mission of Jesus: to ask for a radical change of life orientation (conversion), to disalienate people (liberation from demons), to restore human life (healing). The disciples must be free, have common sense and be aware that the mission will provoke clashes with those who do not want transformations.

5 - Litany of St. Benedict.

6 - Getting to know the Rule of St. Benedict:

Thus, just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness that separates from God and leads to hell, so there is also good zeal that turns away from vices, leads to God and to eternal life. Let the monks, therefore, exercise this zeal with brotherly love, that is, let them anticipate one another in honor and attention.

They are to bear with great patience the infirmities of others, whether they be physical or spiritual. They are to obey one another in a spirit of zeal. No one is to seek what is advantageous for himself, but what is useful for others. They are to put fraternal charity into action in a chaste manner. They are to fear God. They are to love their abbot with humble and sincere affection.

Let them put nothing, absolutely nothing, before Christ, who deigns to lead us all together to eternal life (Chap. 72, on the good zeal monks should have).

7 - Concluding Prayer.

Tips for praying the novena of Saint Benedict

Before praying any prayer, it is essential that you follow certain behaviors, such as staying focused, calm, confident, and above all with your faith unshakable.

Thus, it is critical that you do everything from setting your intentions to keeping your commitment to the novena above all else. Follow along below.

Determine your intentions

Before beginning any novena, it is always fundamental that you define your intentions beforehand. In this way, during the entire prayer process, you will be able, through the powerful words contained in the novena, to ask for the intercession of Saint Benedict before the Father for your problems.

If you do not have a special grace to ask for, you can still do the novena without any problem. If this is your situation, with faith, put your life in the hands of the Divine plan. Remember, it's like that powerful phrase: "Lord, you know my needs. And so, ask that St. Benedict from the height of his goodness and wisdom, intercede for the best foryou.

Find a place that feels comfortable

The moment of a novena is always a period of great connection with the Divine plan. After all, during these 9 days, rocked by your faith, is where you ask for the intercession of the spiritual plan in your life. In this way, it is clear that it is necessary that you make your prayers in a place in which you feel comfortable.

Therefore, choose a quiet, noiseless, airy place where you can truly concentrate. During the novena, it is also not interesting for you to be interrupted. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to have tranquility in the environment you have chosen.

Invite the family

A novena doesn't have to be done alone. In fact, it's always good when you invite other people to participate along with you. In this case, the presence of family is always very special. And don't think that you should only schedule a novena to Saint Benedict if you're going through big problems.

Of course, if some evil is haunting them, like alcoholism, fights, violence, etc., this novena will certainly help them infinitely. However, if this is not your situation, still do not avoid doing it. Thank them for having a harmonious atmosphere at home. But also do it asking for more light, and for the forces of evil to always be far away from this family.

Say your vocal prayers

Vocal prayer is considered by specialists as a kind of loving dialogue with God. It is a way of expressing through words or silence, all your feelings. In this way you place yourself before the Father, showing all your weaknesses, insecurities, pains, requests, etc.

It is also as if you were revealing to God and to your saint of devotion, all that is truly happening inside you. Thus, during a novena it is fundamental that you say your vocal prayers, opening your heart before the Divine.

Stay engaged

Commitment is certainly the basis for doing a good novena. It is known that it lasts 9 days in a row. So, when you decide to do it, understand that you can't skip it, or not do it one day, and go skipping ahead.

It is of extreme importance that you have commitment and do it in the correct way during the 9 days. In addition, it is also fundamental that you follow all the sequence of the novenas, respecting the daily themes.

Pray the novena of Saint Benedict to obtain the grace you need!

As you have learned in the course of this article, Saint Benedict is considered one of the most powerful saints of the Catholic Church. Along with his medal that carries with it the hope of solving problems, and deliverances of all kinds, if you have faith, you can certainly achieve a grace with the intercession of this saint.

Whatever your problem may be, alcoholism, drugs, envy, black magic, turn to Saint Benedict with hope, for he has the necessary wisdom to intercede for you with the Father. Talk to him in a sincere way, like someone who talks to a true friend, after all that's what he is.

And most importantly, keep your faith intact, and trust that he will take your request to the Father, and He will know what is best for you.