Novena to St. Benedict

Day 3

10 min

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Novena to St. Benedict

Opening prayer:

Glorious St. Benedict, father of monks and patron of a peaceful death, you sought God above all things in silence and labor. As I begin this novena, obtain for me a heart ordered to God and freed from the snares of the evil one. Teach me to seek nothing dearer than Christ. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 3: Nothing dearer than Christ

The Rule commands the monk to prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and to let the love of Christ come before all things. This single principle orders the whole monastic life, from obedience to charity to the chanting of the Office. Benedict shows us that every choice of the day, however small, is finally a choice for or against the Lord. He teaches us to weigh all things against our love for Christ.

O glorious Saint Benedict, who bade your sons prefer nothing whatever to the love of Christ, obtain for me the grace to put the Lord before all things every day, that in each choice, great or small, I may choose Him alone and let His love order my whole life. Amen.

Today's intention:

For the grace to put Christ before all things, every day.

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

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

St. Benedict, whose cross puts the enemy to flight, defend me against every temptation and lead me in the way of peace. May the balance of prayer and work order all my days, and may I persevere in the school of the Lord's service. Bring me at last to the kingdom to which your Rule points. Amen.

Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.