Churches of the Day

St Benedict, Abbot, Patron of Europe

11-07  St Benedict, hermit at Subiaco, founded the monastery of Monte Cassino. As abbot, he wrote his wise rule for the Benedictines and Cistercians, and was later named Patron of Europe d. 547
C/f A short life of this saint can be found below todays' Readings and Reflection.

FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of Proverbs              2:1-9
Apply your heart to truth.

My son, you take my words to heart, if you set store by my commandments, tuning your ear to wisdom, and applying your heart to truth:
Yes, if your plea is for clear perception, if you cry out for discernment, if you look for it as if it were silver,
and search for it as for buried treasure, you will then understand what the fear of the Lord is, and discover the knowledge of God.

For the Lord himself is giver of wisdom, from his mouth issue knowledge and discernment.
He keeps his help for honest men, he is the shield of those whose ways are honourable;
he stands guard over the paths of justice, he keeps watch on the way of his devoted ones.
Then you will understand what virtue is, justice, and fair dealing, all paths that lead to happiness.

The Word of the Lord.        Thanks be to God

Responsorial Psalm      Ps 33: 2-11, R/v 2
Response                            I will bless the Lord at all times.
Or                                         Taste and see that the Lord is good.

1. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad.                     Response

2. Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free.                         Response

3. Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress.              Response

4. The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him.                          Response

5. Revere the Lord, you his saints. They lack nothing, those who revere him.
Strong lions suffer want and go hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.      Response

Gospel Acclamation              Mt 5: 3
Alleluia, alleluia!
How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL  

The Lord be with you                                And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew   19:27-29        Glory to you, O Lord
Everyone who has followed me will be repaid a hundred times over.


Peter spoke to Jesus. 'What about us?' he said 'We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?'
Jesus said to him, 'I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life. Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'

The Gospel of the Lord.           Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Gospel Reflection                 11th July,          St Benedict, abbot, Patron of Europe,     Matthew 19:27-29

‘The first monks in Italy and Gaul followed Eastern models and rules, which were usually marked by extreme austerity. It was Saint Benedict who adapted monasticism to European needs, and laid the foundations of the great monastic system which bears his name. Benedict was born in Norcia in Italy about the year 480, and as a youth studied in Rome. Disliking the licentiousness of the city, and feeling that he had a special call from God, he retired to a cave at Subiaco, about forty miles south of Rome. He lived there for three years. His manner of life attracted followers, and this led to the establishment of a monastery at Subiaco, which still exists. Later, probably in 528 or 529, he went further south and built the great abbey of Monte Cassino in the central Apennines.

He remained there until his death in 547, and it is there that he drew up his famous Rule for Monks’ (Website of Mount St Joseph’s Abbey, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, Ireland). Saint Benedict taught his monks the value of the common life. They would often pray alone, but they would also pray and work together and show hospitality to visitors. Having left their families and home, the monks discovered a new family, the community of their brother monks and of the wider world. In response to Peter’s question in the gospel reading, ‘What about us? We have left everything to follow you. What are we to have then?’

Jesus promises his disciples that everyone who has left home and family for his sake will be repaid a hundred times over. Most of us are not called to leave home and family for Jesus’ sake. Yet, there is always something we have to leave or let go of if we are to remain the Lord’s faithful followers. Jesus assures us that if we are prepared to take this path of letting go for his sake, we will always receive more from him than we have let go.

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The Scripture Readings are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, published 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd. and used with the permission of the publishers.  http://dltbooks.com/
The Scripture Reflection is made available with our thanks from his book Reflections on the Weekday Readings : The Word is near to you, on your lips and in your heart by Martin Hogan and published by Messenger Publications , c/f www.messenger.ie/bookshop/
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Saint of the Day: July 11, St Benedict, abbot, Patron of Europe

Summary, St Benedict: Born at Nursia (Umbria, Italy) about 480; died at Monte Cassino about 547. After studies in Rome he became a hermit at Subiaco, where many sought his counsel, and later founded the monastery at Monte Cassino. Noted for his widely influential monastic rule, combining work and prayer, and for his charity and moderation.


St Benedict,  founder of Western monasticism and author of the Rule which gave monasticism its constitution, exercised a fundamental influence on the development of European civilisation and culture. Because of this, in 1964, Pope Paul VI named him patron saint of Europe.

Patrick Duffy tells his story.

Early Life
St. Benedict was born, a twin with St Scholastica, into a wealthy family at Nursia in east-central Umbria around the year 480. He went to school in Rome but, disturbed by the moral laxity of other students in Rome, he left before completing his studies. Seeking peace and quiet he withdrew to Subiaco situated in the mountains about forty miles from Rome. Here he met a monk called Romanus who helped him in his first steps as a hermit.

Overcoming Temptations
At Subiaco Benedict spent three years in a cave where he "underwent the three fundamental temptations that all human beings face: self-affirmation and the desire to place oneself at the centre, ... sensuality, ... anger/ revenge" (Pope St Benedict XVI). Only by overcoming these temptations would he be able find the right words to give others in their situations of need.

First Monastery at Subiaco
Soon disciples joined him and he became the leader of a monastic community at Subiaco. Some monks there were unhappy with Benedict's strict discipline and put poison in his wine. When they brought it to Benedict to drink, he blessed it and the glass miraculously broke. "God forgive you," he exclaimed, and he went off again to the wilderness.

Ss Maur and Placidus
More monks came to Subiaco and Benedict had twelve small monasteries with twelve in each one in that area. Some Roman senators came and left their sons with Benedict for education. Some of these turned out to be his most faithful disciples, St Maur and St Placid. The story of Maur rescuing Placid from drowning in the lake of Subiaco is told in Gregory, Dialogues II,7 and in artworks and mosaics. Placid was for some centuries regarded as the patron of Benedictine novices. Others, including a local priest, became envious and spread slander about Benedict.

Second Foundation at Monte Cassino

Around 529 Benedict left Subiaco for Monte Cassino, where he built a great abbey and lived till his death in 547. Scholars, like Mabillon and Muratori, have argued from ancient pictures and inscriptions that Benedict was a deacon, but not a priest. From St Gregory's account of his life in the Dialogues, it is clear that he preached in the neighbouring areas and that he was generous to the needy.

Significance of Monte Cassino
Pope Benedict XVI recently described the decision of his namesake St Benedict to locate his monastery on Monte Cassino as symbolic. Monte Cassino is, he said, "a height that dominates the surrounding plains and is visible from a distance". "Monastic life," the Pope continued, "has its raison d'etre in withdrawal and concealment, but a monastery also has a public role in the life of the Church and of society".

Benedictine Monasteries in Ireland
Glenstal Abbey in Co Limerick (www.glenstal.org/) and Holy Cross Monastery, Rostrevor, Co. Down (www.benedictinemonks.co.uk), are two Benedictine monasteries in Ireland which strive to fulfil this ideal.

Benedict's Twin Sister
Scholastica became the first Benedictine nun and set up a nunnery at Plombaria, about five miles from Monte Cassino. Brother and sister used to meet once a year at a house some distance from his monastery. On his last visit Scholastica, sensing perhaps that the end was near for both of them, asked him to stay longer 'to discuss the joys of heaven'. When he declined, she prayed God would come to her help. Almost immediately a storm blew up. Benedict and his fellow monks could not leave. Benedict said, "God forgive you, sister. What have you done?" She replied, "I asked a favour of you and you refused. I asked God and he has granted it." They spent the night as she had wished. Three days later she died. Benedict himself seems to have died quite soon after that.

The Rule of St Benedict
The Rule of St Benedict is a book of 73 chapters describing the organisation of the life of monks living in community and striving by means of the common life, ascetic practice, prayer and work to experience a life of  fellowship with God. Its tone and tenor can be summed up in the motto of the Benedictine Confederation PAX ("peace") and the traditional adage ORA ET LABORA ("pray and work").  Benedict had a deep personal love of Jesus and his rule is Rule is wise, humane, tolerant and moderate. It stresses humility before God and each other. Its richness is that it fosters an understanding of the relational nature of human beings on their individual journeys to God. It provides for a spiritual father to support individual ascetic effort and spiritual growth.

Prayer and Love
Benedict seems to have lived his life immersed in an atmosphere of prayer and it was this prayer that made him alive to the concrete needs of his neighbours.

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Memorable Sayings for Today

Listen with the ear of your heart

~ St Benedict ~

"The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices.
He is also afraid when we are humble and good.
He is especially afraid when we love Jesus very much.
He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross

~ St Anthony, Abbot of the Desert~

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Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C

The Good Samaritan Sunday Gospel reminds us, appeals to us calls to us, urges us, shouts to us
to be a good Samaritan to others and ourselves for God's sake and our own, like Jesus was and is.

FIRST READING           

A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy           30: 10-14
The Word is very near to you for your observance.

Moses said to the people:
 'Obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping those commandments and laws of his that are written in the Book of this Law, and you shall return to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

'For this Law that I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, so that you need to wonder, "Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?"
Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to wonder, "Who will cross the seas for us and bring it back to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?"
No, the Word is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.'

The word of the Lord                Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm            Ps 68
Response                                 Seek the Lord, you who are poor, and your hearts will revive.


1. This is my prayer to you, my prayer for your favour.
In your great love, answer me, O God, with your help that never fails:
Lord, answer, for your love is kind; in your compassion, turn towards me.                 Response

2. As for me in my poverty and pain let your help, O God, lift me up.
I will praise God's name with a song; I will glorify him with thanksgiving.                   Response

3. The poor when they see it will be glad and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy and does not spurn his servants in their chains.       Response

4. For God will bring help to Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah.
The sons of his servants shall inherit it; those who love his name shall dwell there.    Response

SECOND READING              

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians        1: 15-20
All things were created through Christ and for him.

Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation,
for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible, Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers –
all things were created through him and for him.
Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in unity.


Now the Church is his body, he is its head.
As he is the Beginning, he was first to be born from the dead, so that he should be first in every way; because God wanted all perfection to be found in him and all things to be reconciled through him and for him, everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when he made peace by his death on the cross.

The Word of the Lord             Thanks be to God.

Gospel  Acclamation         Jn 15: 15
Alleluia, alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!

Or                                             Jn : 63.68
Alleluia, alleluia!
Your words are spirit and they are life: you have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you.          And with your spirit
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke       10: 25-37        Glory to you, O Lord
Who is my neighbour?


There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, 'Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
He said to him,'What is written in the Law? What do you read there?'
He replied,
'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself'.
'You have answered right,' said Jesus 'do this and life is yours.'

But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbour?'
Jesus replied,
  'A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper.
"Look after him," he said "and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have."


Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands` hands?'  'The one who took pity on him' he replied.
Jesus said to him, 'Go, and do the same yourself.'

The Gospel of the Lord           Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

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For homily resources for this Sunday's Gospel click here:  https://www.catholicireland.net/sunday-homily/



Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.