Readings for the Memorial of Saint Benedict

Readings
for the Memorial of

Saint Benedict
Abbot
July 11

Go to the Liturgy of the Hours

MASS

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Fuit vir vitae venerabilis, gratia Benedictus et nomine, qui relicta domo rebusque patris, soli Deo placere cupiens, sanctae conversationis habitum quaesivit.
There was a man of venerable life,
Benedict, blessed by grace and by name,
who, leaving home and patrimony
and desiring to please God alone,
sought out the habit of holy living.

COLLECT
Deus, qui beatum Benedictum abbatem in schola divini servitii praeclarum constituisti magistrum, tribue, quaesumus, ut, amori tuo nihil praeponentes, viam mandatorum tuorum dilatato corde curramus.
O God, who made the Abbot Saint Benedict
an outstanding master in the school of divine service,
grant, we pray,
that, putting nothing before love of you,
we may hasten with a loving heart
in the way of your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING Proverbs 2:1-9
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure my commands,
Turning your ear to wisdom,
inclining your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you call to intelligence,
and to understanding raise your voice;
If you seek her like silver,
and like hidden treasures search her out:

Then will you understand the fear of the LORD;
the knowledge of God you will find;
For the LORD gives wisdom,
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He has counsel in store for the upright,
he is the shield of those who walk honestly,
Guarding the paths of justice,
protecting the way of his pious ones.

Then you will understand rectitude and justice,
honesty, every good path.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM          34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
Gustate et videte quoniam bonus.

R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord or: I will bless the Lord at all times.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
praise shall be always in my mouth.
My soul will glory in the LORD
that the poor may hear and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord or: I will bless the Lord at all times.
Magnify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, who answered me,
delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord or: I will bless the Lord at all times.
Look to God that you may be radiant with joy
and your faces may not blush for shame.
In my misfortune I called,
the LORD heard and saved me from all distress.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord or: I will bless the Lord at all times.
The angel of the LORD, who encamps with them,
delivers all who fear God.
Learn to savor how good the LORD is;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord or: I will bless the Lord at all times.
Fear the LORD, you holy ones;
nothing is lacking to those who fear him.
The powerful grow poor and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord or: I will bless the Lord at all times.

ALLELUIA          Matthew 5:3
Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam; ipsorum est regnum caelorum.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.

GOSPEL          Matt 19:27-29
Peter said to Jesus,
"We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life."

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Haec sancta, Domine, quae in beati Benedicti celebritate deferimus, respice benignus, et praesta, ut nos, eius exemplis te quaerentes, unitatis in tuo servitio pacisque dona consequi mereamur.
Look kindly, Lord, upon these holy offerings,
which we make in honor of Saint Benedict,
and grant that,
by following his example in seeking you,
we may merit the gifts of unity in your service and of peace.
Through Christ our Lord.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON          Luke 12:42
Fidelis servus et prudens, quem constituit Dominus super familiam suam, ut det illis in tempore tritici mensuram.
This is the steward, faithful and prudent,
whom the Lord set over his household
to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Accepto pignore vitae aeternae, te, Domine, suppliciter deprecamur, ut, beati Benedicti monitis obsequentes, operi tuo fideliter serviamus, et fratres ferventi diligamus caritate.
Having received this pledge of eternal life,
we humbly beseech you, O Lord,
that, attentive to the teaching of Saint Benedict,
we may faithfully serve your designs
and love one another with fervent charity.
Through Christ our Lord.

The Liturgy of the Hours
St. Benedict of Nursia

From the Common of Holy Men: religious, except the following

Morning Prayer

BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon: He lived a holy life, Benedict, blessed in name and in grace.

Evening Prayer

MAGNIFICAT (Song of Mary)
Antiphon: He received the Lord's blessing and the merciful saving power of God; such is the fortune of those who seek the Lord.

Office of Readings

SECOND READING

From the Rule of Benedict, abbot
(Prologus 4-22; cap. 72, 1-12: CSEL 75, 2-5, 162-163)

Put Christ before everything

Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection; that he, who has honored us by counting us among his children, may never be grieved by our evil deeds. For we must always serve him with the good things he has given us in such a way that he may never – as an angry father disinherits his sons or even like a master who inspires fear – grow impatient with our sins and consign us to everlasting punishment, like wicked servants who would not follow him to glory.

So we should at long last rouse ourselves, prompted by the words of Scripture: Now is the time for us to rise from sleep. Our eyes should be open to the God-given light, and we should listen in wonderment to the message of the divine voice as it daily cries out: Today, if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts; and again: If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. And what does the Spirit say? Come my sons, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Hurry, while you have the light of life, so that death’s darkness may not overtake you.

And the Lord as he seeks the one who will do his work among the throng of people to whom he makes that appeal, says again: Which of you wants to live to the full; who loves long life and the enjoyment of prosperity? And, if when you hear this you say, I do, God says to you: If you desire true and everlasting life, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceit; turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. And when you have done these things my eyes will be upon you and my ears will be attentive to your prayers; and before you call upon my name I shall say to you: Behold, I am here. What could be more delightful, dearest brothers, than the voice of our Lord’s invitation to us? In his loving kindness he reveals to us the way of life.

And so, girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his paths by the guidance of the Gospel; then we shall deserve to see him who has called us into his kingdom. If we wish to attain a dwelling-place in his kingdom we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good deeds.

Just as there exists an evil fervor, a bitter spirit, which divides us from God and leads us to hell, so there is a good fervor which sets us apart from evil inclinations and leads us toward God and eternal life. Monks should put this fervor into practice with an overflowing love: that is, they should surpass each other in mutual esteem, accept their weaknesses, either of body or of behavior, with the utmost patience; and vie with each other in acceding to requests. No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for another. They should display brotherly love in a chaste manner; fear God in a spirit of love; revere their abbot with a genuine and submissive affection. Let them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting life.

RESPONSORY
Wishing to please God alone,
Benedict left his home and patrimony
to enter the religious life.
- He lived as a hermit in the presence of the all-seeing God.

He withdrew from the world of men,
knowingly unacquainted with its ways
and wisely unlearned in its wisdom.
- He lived as a hermit in the presence of the all-seeing God.

COLLECT
O God, who made the Abbot Saint Benedict
an outstanding master in the school of divine service,
grant, we pray,
that, putting nothing before love of you,
we may hasten with a loving heart
in the way of your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); the English translation of Antiphons, Invitatories, Responsories, Intercessions, Psalm 95, the Canticle of the Lamb, Psalm Prayers, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); the English translation of Antiphons, Invitatories, Responsories, Intercessions, Psalm 95, the Canticle of the Lamb, Psalm Prayers, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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