A Novena for spiritual fatherhood •
july 2-10•
1
F r om the A bb ot Sp ir i t u al Fa t h e r h o o d
D e ar Fr iends, Than k you for j oining us in prayer! It is our hop e t hat, t hroug h t his novena, St. B ene dic t w i l l interce de for us on b eha lf of our spir itual fathers and a l l t he ot her intent ions we hold in our he ar ts. In t his guide we of fer a t heme for e ach d ay and a shor t quote f rom Pop e Gregor y’s D ialog ues or St. B ene dic t’s Rule . We hop e t hat t hes e quotes w i l l not on ly s er ve to inspire you (and us), but to help us g row clos er to St. B ene dic t. We t hen pray, toget her, t he prayer to St. B ene dic t, t hat he w i l l obt ain t his sp e ci a l g race for us and our spir itu a l fat hers. As Abb ot, I lo ok regu l arly to t he b e aut if u l example of holiness t hat was s et for t h by St. B ene dic t 1,500 ye ars ago. It is my hop e and prayer, t hat t hroug h t his novena, he may s er ve as a lig ht and guide for e ach of you as he has for me. In C hr ist
Abb ot James A lb ers, OSB
2 • A N o v e n a t o S t. B e n e d i c t
Day 1 • July 2
o u r h o ly fat h e r s t. b e n e d i c t S ome ye ars ago t here live d a man w ho was re vere d for t he holiness of his life. Bless e d B ene dic t was his name. . . Even w hi le st i l l liv ing in t he world , f re e to enj oy a l l it had to of fer, he s aw how empt y it was and tur ne d f rom it w it hout reg ret. - L ife and Miracles of St. Benedict B o ok t wo of the D ial o gues by Pope St. Gregory the Great C hapter 1 Int ro duc t ion L e t us ta ke a moment to ref l e c t on St . B ene di c t’s c a l l to pr ayer in s olitu d e and his g re at w itness of holiness for a l l of us. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional ) 3
Day 2 • July 3
listen L isten c aref u l ly, my s on, to t he master’s inst r uc t ions, and attend to t hem w it h t he e ar of your he ar t. This is adv ice f rom a fat her w ho loves you; welcome it, and fait hf u l ly put it into prac t ice. - Rule of St. Benedict, P rol o gue:1 Ta ke a moment to listen to the s ound of G o d’s voi c e in si l enc e. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional )
4 • A N o v e n a t o S t. B e n e d i c t
Day 3 • July 4
good works Pray for your enemies out of love for C hr ist. If you have a dispute w it h s ome one, ma ke p e ace w it h him b efore t he sun go es dow n. And f ina l ly, ne ver los e hop e in G o d’s Merc y. - Rule of St. Benedict, 4:73-72 L e t us ta ke time to thin k ab out thos e w ith w hom we shou l d ma ke p e ac e and to rememb er that G o d’s merc y is limitl ess. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional )
5
Day 4 • July 5
obedience The f irst step of humi lit y is un hesit at ing ob e dience, w hich comes natura l ly to t hos e w ho cher ish C hr ist ab ove a l l. - Rule of St. Benedict, 5:1-2 L e t us ref l e c t on thos e we to w hom owe just ob e di enc e, k now ing that ob e di enc e w i l l help us g row in humi lity. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional )
6 • A N o v e n a t o S t. B e n e d i c t
Day 5 • July 6
work Id leness is t he enemy of t he s ou l. Therefore, t he brot hers shou ld have sp e cif ie d p er io ds for manu a l l ab or as wel l as for prayer f u l re ading . - Rule of St. Benedict, 48:1 L e t us l o ok at how we org aniz e our d ai ly ta sks and ma ke an incre as e d ef for t to inclu d e more pr ayer in our d ai ly lives – ne ver forge tting to attend to w hat must b e d one. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional )
7
Day 6 • July 7
being away Brot hers w ho work s o far away t hat t he y c annot retur n to t he orator y at t he prop er t ime---are to p er for m t he Work of G o d w here t he y are, and k ne el out of re verence for G o d. - Rule of St. Benedict, 50:3 L e t us rememb er to a lways ta ke time for pr ayer, e ven w hen we are away f rom home. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional )
8 • A N o v e n a t o S t. B e n e d i c t
Day 7 • July 8
ho spita l it y A l l guests w ho welcome t hems elves are to b e welcome d as C hr ist, for he hims elf w i l l s ay : I was a st ranger and you welcome d me. - Rule of St. Benedict, 53:1 L e t us wel c ome a l l thos e we me e t this d ay as C hrist and incre as e our spirit of hospita lity to a l l thos e we inv ite into our homes. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional )
9
Day 8 • July 9
zeal There is a go o d ze a l w hich s ep arates f rom e v i l and le ads to G o d and e verl ast ing life. The y shou ld e ach t r y to b e t he f irst to show resp e c t to t he ot her (R om 12:10), supp or t ing w it h t he g re atest p at ience one anot her’s we a k ness es... - Rule of St. Benedict, 72:2,4 L e t us ta ke a moment to ref l e c t on are as in w hi ch we c an g row in the v ir tu e of p ati enc e, esp e ci a l ly w ith thos e cl os est to us. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional )
10 • A N o v e n a t o S t. B e n e d i c t
Day 9 • July 10
learn What p age, w hat p ass age of t he inspire d b o oks of t he Old and Ne w Test aments is not t he t r uest of guides for human life? What b o ok of t he holy c at holic Fat hers do es not res ounding ly summon us a long t he t r ue way to re ach t he Cre ator? - Rule of St. Benedict, 73:3-4 L e t us s e t asi d e s ome time to re ad more p ass ages f rom the Bibl e and the w ritings of the e arly C hurch Fathers. Glor ious St. B ene dic t, sublime mo del of v ir tue, pure vess el of G o d’s g race! B ehold me humbly k ne eling at your fe et. I implore you in your lov ing k indness to pray for me b efore t he t hrone of G o d. To you I have re cours e in t he d angers t hat d ai ly sur round me. Shield me against my s elf ishness and my indif ference to G o d and to my neig hb or. Inspire me to imit ate you in a l l t hings. May your blessing b e w it h me a lways, s o t hat I may s e e and s er ve C hr ist in ot hers and work for His k ingdom. Graciously obt ain for me f rom G o d t hos e favors and g races w hich I ne e d s o much in t he t r i a ls, mis er ies and af f lic t ions of life. Your he ar t was a lways f u l l of love, comp assion and merc y toward t hos e w ho were af f lic te d or t rouble d in any way. You ne ver dismiss e d w it hout cons ol at ion and assist ance anyone w ho had re cours e to you. I t herefore invoke your p ower f u l intercession, conf ident in t he hop e t hat you w i l l he ar my prayer and obt ain for me t he sp e ci a l g race and favor I e ar nest ly implore (name it). Help me, g re at St. B ene dic t. to live and die as a fait hf u l chi ld of G o d, to r un in t he swe et ness of His lov ing w i l l and to att ain t he eter na l happiness of he aven. Amen. Hail M ary... O ur Father... Gl ory be... (optional )
11
12 • A N o v e n a t o S t. B e n e d i c t