The Prayer of ST. BENEDICT

O GRACIOUS AND HOLY FATHER

Give us wisdom to perceive thee

Intelligence to seek thee

Patience to wait for thee

Vision to behold thee

A heart to meditate upon thee

And a life to proclaim thee

Through the power of the Spirit

of Jesus Christ Our Lord.

St Benedict - c480-550

Benedict was the father of Western monasticism. He was the first person to try to understand how we can live together with any degree of authenticity. He laid out systems for leadership, ownership, belonging and shared living.

Eternal God,

who made Benedict

To become a wise master

In the school of your service

And a guide to many called to community

To follow the rule of Christ:

Grant that we may put your love before all else

And seek with joy

The way of your commandments;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Who is alive and reigns with you,

In the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, now and forever, Amen.