St Benedict Week Novena and Prayers

In 1964 Pope Paul VI declared St Benedict Patron Saint of Europe, with his Feast on 11th July. Traditionally, this is the date he was born. Pope Paul VI noted that St Benedict started a movement that had a profound effect on the Christianisation of Europe. Ealing Abbey and its parish are both dedicated to St Benedict. Therefore, this feast is doubly important for us, as the founder of western monasticism and as our patron. We prepare for the Feast of St Benedict with a novena. This is nine days of prayer and devotion in honour of St Benedict.

The Novena

During the Novena, we remember a different saint each day. Apart from St Thomas, whose feast is during the novena, these are all Benedictine saints or (St Gregory) have a connection with Benedictines in England.

2nd JulySs Placid and Maurus
3rd JulySt Thomas
4th JulySt Bede
5th JulySs John Roberts and Ambrose Barlow
6th JulySt Benedict of Aniane
7th JulySt Gregory the Great
8th JulySt Augustine of Canterbury
9th JulySt Benet Biscop
10th JulySt Scholastica

The novena leads up to the celebration of the Feast of St Benedict on 11th July.

Statue of St Benedict
A statue of St Benedict holding his Rule and a cross

St Benedict Week

As well as joining us as we prepare for the Feast of St Benedict with a novena, the Lay Community of St Benedict is also having a week of celebration centred on the 11th July. You can see details of the week here.

As we come to the end of the school year, you might want to consider that St Benedict described the monastery as a ‘school for the Lord’s service.’ If you have time away from work or study this summer, why not ask St Benedict to pray for you to serve God better.

Prayer

Stir up in your Church, O Lord, that spirit to which Our Holy Father Benedict was ever faithful, so that, filled with the same spirit, we may strive to love what he loved and to practise what he taught. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.