Novena to St Benedict
Feast: 11 Jul
When to pray: Begin on 2 Jul and finish on 10 Jul, the eve of the feast. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
St Benedict, father of monks, help me pray and work in order and peace. Keep the evil one far from me and my home. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: Leaving Rome
And the Lord said to Abram: Go forth out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and out of thy father’s house, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
Gen 12:1, Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, you left your studies in Rome to seek God alone. The Lord said to Abram, Go forth out of thy country. Help me to leave behind whatever keeps me from God. Amen.
Day 2: The cave at Subiaco
Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the wilderness: and I will speak to her heart.
Osee 2:14 [Hos 2:14], Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, you lived for three years in a cave at Subiaco. The Lord says, I will lead her into the wilderness and I will speak to her heart. Give me times of solitude to hear God's voice. Amen.
Day 3: Victory over temptation
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil: and he will fly from you.
James 4:7, Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, when you were tempted, you fought the temptation with penance and prayer. Resist the devil and he will fly from you. Strengthen me in temptation and keep my heart pure. Amen.
Day 4: Ora et labora
Pray without ceasing.
1 Thess 5:17, Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, you taught your monks to pray and to work. Pray without ceasing. Teach me to make my work a prayer and to keep God's presence throughout my day. Amen.
Day 5: The Rule
Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Ps 33:12 [Ps 34:11], Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, your Rule begins with the word Listen. Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Help me to listen to God, to obey his law, and to live in order and peace. Amen.
Day 6: Poisoned cup broken
They shall take up serpents: and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hand upon the sick: and they shall recover.
Mark 16:18, Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, when wicked monks tried to poison you, the cup shattered as you blessed it. Christ promised that deadly things would not hurt his own. Protect me from every evil, seen and unseen. Amen.
Day 7: The St Benedict Medal
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
Gal 6:14, Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, the medal that bears your name carries the Cross and prayers against the enemy. Let the holy Cross be my light, and let me glory only in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Day 8: Hospitality
And hospitality do not forget: for by this some, being not aware of it, have entertained angels.
Heb 13:2, Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, your Rule teaches that every guest is to be received as Christ. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. Make my home and my heart welcoming to all whom God sends me. Amen.
Day 9: Peaceful death
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Ps 115:15 [Ps 116:15], Douay-Rheims
St Benedict, you died standing in the chapel, supported by your monks, with your hands raised in prayer. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Obtain for me a holy and peaceful death. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): 1 Thess 5:17; Gal 6:14; Gen 12:1; Heb 13:2; James 4:7; Mark 16:18; Osee 2:14 [Hos 2:14]; Ps 115:15 [Ps 116:15]; Ps 33:12 [Ps 34:11]. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources