Benedictine Calendar for February

FEBRUARY

1 St John, Bishop of St Malo (+ 1160)
St Clarus, Monk of Seligenstadt (+ 1043)
2 St Lawrence, Archbishop of Canterbury (+ 619)
3 St Ansgar, Archbishop of Bremen, Apostle of Scandinavia (+ 865)
4 St Rabanus Maurus, Archbishop of Mainz (+ 856)
St Rembert, Archbishop of Bremen (+ 888)
5 St Berthulph, Abbot at Renty (+ 705)
6 St Amandus, Bishop of Maestricht (+ 675)
St Ina, King of Wessex (+ 730)
7 St Romuald, Founder of the Camaldolese (+ 1027)
8 St Elfleda, Abbess of Whitby (+ 716)
9 St Alto, Abbot of Altomuenster (+ 760)
St Marian, Abbot at Regensburg (+ 1088)
10 St Scholastica, sister of St Benedict (+ 543)
11 St Benedict, Abbot of Aniane (+ 821)
St Adolph, Bishop of Osnabruck (+ 1222)
12 St Ethelwold, Bishop of Lindisfarne (+ 740)
St Humbelina, sister of St Bernard (+ 1136)
13 St Gregory II, Pope (+ 731)
14 St Antonine, Abbot at Sorrento (+ 830)
St Boniface, Martyr, Apostle to the Russians (+ 1009)
15 St Walafrid, Abbot in Tuscany (+ 764)
16 St Tanco, Bishop of Werden (+ 800)
Ven Gaspard de Winck, Abbot in Hainault (+ 1630)
17 St Constabilis, Abbot of Cava (+ 1124)
18 St Helladius, Archbishop of Toledo (+ 632)
19 St Boniface, Bishop of Lausanne (+ 1266) 
Bl Frederic, Abbot of Hirschau (+ 1070)
20 St Eucherius, Bishop of Orleans (+ 743)
21 St Gumbert, Archbishop of Sens (+ 675)
22. Bl Jane Marie Bonomo, Abbess at Bassano (+ 1670)
St John, Abbot at Lucca (+ 1055)
23 St Peter Damian, Cardinal, Doctor (+ 1071)
24 Bl Bartholemew, Abbot of Marmoutier (+ 1084)
Bl Simon, Brother at Aune (+ 1220)
25 St Walburga, Abbess in Eichstaett (+ 779)
Ven Mary Adeodata, Abbess in Malta (+ 1855)
26 Bl Mechtildis, Oblate at Spanheim (+ 1154)
Bl Mark Barkworth, Martyr (+ 1601)
27 St Leander, Archbishop of Seville (+ 601)
Bl John, Abbot of Gorze (+ 973)
28 St Herbert, Abbot of Wearmouth (+ 8th Cent)
29 St Oswald, Archbishop of York (+ 992)




PRAYER IN HONOUR OF ALL HOLY MONKS

Ant. The souls of the Saints, who have followed in the footsteps of Christ, rejoice in heaven; and, because they have despised the world for love of him, therefore do they exult with Christ forever.

V. But the just shall live for evermore.
R. And their reward is with the Lord.

Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the example of the holy Monks may stir us to a better life: so that we may imitate the actions of those whose memory we celebrate. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Conferences of St John Cassian

In Chapter 42 of the Holy Rule, it is recommended that between Vespers and Compline there should be some reading in common from "the Conferences [of Cassian], or the lives of the Fathers, or some thing else which may edify the hearers."


The following is taken from the back cover of a recent translation of the Conferences, published by Gracewing, and available from Amazon:


"The Twenty-Four Conferences or Collations of St John Cassian, written in the early fifth century, were to have a tremendous impact in the West on the spirituality of monastics and other Religious. A classic of spirituality, they were compulsory reading for St Benedict's monks, the favourite spiritual reading of St Dominic in the late twelfth century and were treasured by St Philip Neri in the sixteenth. The Collations were likened by St John Cassian himself to the twenty-four elders of the Apocalypse, who lay their crowns before the Lamb. Whatever glory they have, they attribute it all to the Word of God made flesh, who speaks through them, as He speaks through Cassian their editor, and indeed, if God wills, through their translator Cassian and his companion Germanus interview a number senior monks and hermits, asking them about difficulties in prayer and in living the Christian life, and are given answers that display a surprising degree of psychological insight into human nature. Although these interviews were first written down for monks, there is much in them that can be applied to the spiritual life of all Christians. This new translation, by a Father of the Oxford Oratory, brings Cassian to life for the twenty-first century."


At the monthly meetings in Oxford of The Sodality of SS Benedict and Scholastica, we are following the recommendation of St Benedict. As part of our programme, we hear five minutes of reading from the Conferences of St John Cassian, and then later five minutes of commentary from one of the Fathers or Doctors of the church, on the Gospel of the day or of the previous Sunday.


Meetings of the Sodality take place usually on the first Wednesday of the month, from 7pm to 8pm, at the Church of St Gregory and St Augustine in North Oxford.

15th January, St Maurus, Abbot

St Maurus, Abbot

Haying been committed in his earliest childhood by the Senator Eutychius, his father, to the care of St. Benedict, the great Patriarch of the monks of the West, St. Maurus faithfully reproduced all the virtues of his Master. The latter having commanded him to save young Placid who was drowning, he walked with simple confidence on the waters of a torrent and brought him back safe and sound. Haying been sent to Gaul according to a tradition, he promulgated "the Holy Rule of St. Benedict", founded the monastry at Glanfeuil and wrought many miracles.

By his doctrine, permeated by evangelical perfection, and by his works, that is to say by thousands of abbeys which during twelve centuries covered France, and which all sprang from the one he had founded, he bore striking testimony to the divinity of Jesus. He died in 584.

 

Intercéssio nos, quaesumus, Dómine, beáti Mauri Abbátís comméndet: ut, quod nostris méritis non valémus, ejus patrocínio assequámur.
May the intercession of the blessed Abbot Maurus, we beseech Thee, O Lord, commend us unto Thee, that what we cannot have through our own merits, we may obtain through his patronage.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10072a.htm

Benedictine Calendar for January

1 St Odilo, Abb of Cluny (+ 1049)
   St William, Abb at Dijon (+ 1031)
2 St Adelard, Abb at Corbie (+ 827)
3 St Blitmund, Abb at St Valery (+ 650)
4 St Rigobert, Abp of Rheims (+ab 733)
   Bl Roger, Mk at Elan (+ 1175)
5 Bl Gaudentius, Bp of Gnesen (+ 1006)
6 St Peter, Abb of Canterbury (+ 606)
   Bl Frederic, Mk at St Vannes (+ 1022)
7 Bl Tillo, Abb at Solignac (+ 700)
   Ven Louis de Blois (Blosius), Abb of Liessies (+ 1556)
8 St Erhard, Bp of Regensburg (+ 8th Cent)
9 St Adrian, Abb at Canterbury (+ 710)
10 St William, Abp of Bourges (+ 1109)
11 St Taso, Abb at Volturno (+ 729)
12 St Benedict Biscop, Abb at Wearmouth (+ 690)
     St Aelred, Abb at Rievaulx (+ 1166)
13 Bl Berno, Abb of Cluny (+ 927) .
14 St Peter Urseolus, Doge of Venice (+ 987)
     St Warin, Bp of Sitten (+ 1140)
15 St Maurus, Abb, disciple of St. Benedict (+ 583)
     St Ceolwulf, K, Mk at Lindisfarne (+ 760)
16 St Fursey, Abb at Lagny (+ 650)
     Ven Joanna, Sr at Bagno (+ 1105)
17 Sts Anthony, Merulus, John, Mks at Rome (+ 6th Cent)
18 Bl Beatrice of Este, Nn at Ferrara (+ 1262)
19 St Wulstan, Bp of Worcester (+ 1095)
20 St Maurus, Bp of Cesena (+ 946)
21 St Meinrad, Mk at Einsiedeln (+ ab 863)
     Bl Alban Roe, M (+ 1641)
22 St Dominic, Abb at Sora (+ 1031)
     Bl Walter, Br (+ 1222)
23 St Ildephonse, Abp of Toledo (+ 667)
24 St Bertram, Abb of St Quentin (+ 680)
     Bl Macarius, Abb at Wuerzburg (+ 1153)
25 St Poppo, Abb of Stablo (+ 1048)
26 St Alberic, Abb of Citeaux (+ 1107)
27 St Theodoric, Bp of Orleans (+ 1022)
28 St Amadeus, Bp of Lausanne (+ 1159)
29 St Gelasius II, P (+ 1119)
30 St Adelhelm, Abb at Burgos (+ 1097)
     St Bathildis, Qu (+ 680)
31 Bl Eusebius, Mk at St Gall's (+ 884)

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF ALL HOLY MONKS
Ant. The souls of the Saints, who have followed in the footsteps of Christ, rejoice in heaven; and, because they have despised the world for love of him, therefore do they exult with Christ forever.

V. But the just shall live for evermore.
R. And their reward is with the Lord.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the example of the holy Monks may stir us to a better life: so that we may imitate the actions of those whose memory we celebrate. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Renewal of the Monastic Spirit

PRAYER FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE MONASTIC SPIRIT


We beseech Thee, Almighty God, by the merits and example of our most holy Father BENEDICT, of his disciples, Saints PLACID and MAURUS, of his virgin sister, Saint SCHOLASTICA, and of all holy monks and nuns who have fought under his standard and leadership, to renew in us thy Holy Spirit, that we may conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil. And, since the palm of victory can be won only by the pain of battle, give unto us patience in adversity, constancy in tribulation, and prudence in danger. Grant us also, we beseech thee, the white robe of purity, the love of poverty, the victory of obedience, and perseverance in the way of righteousness; that, sustained by thy help and united in the bond of brotherly love, we may serve thee with our whole heart, and so pass through things temporal as finally to attain unto things eternal, unto the crown of victory and the blessed companionship of all holy monks. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

BENEDICTINE SAINTS AND BEATI FOR NOVEMBER

BENEDICTINE SAINTS AND BEATI FOR NOVEMBER

1. St GENESIUS, Archbishop of Lyons (+668)
2. St BENNO, Founder of Clynnog Fawr (+ c.620)
3. St PIRMIN, Bishop, founder of several abbeys (+758)
4. St BERTILIA, Abbess of Chelles (+ 692)
5. St MALACHY, Archbishop of Armagh (+1148)
6. St WINOC, Abbot of Wornhout (+717)

7. St WILLIBRORD, Bishop of Utrecht, Apostle of Frisia (+ 738)
8. St GODFREY, Bishop of Amiens (+1118)
9. Ven HENRY, Bp of Luebeck (+1184)
10. St JUSTUS, Archbishop of Canterbury (+627)
11. Ven SERGIUS, Archbishop of Damascus (+981)
12. St EMILIAN, Abbot of St Millan in Spain (+574)
13. All Saints of the Benedictine Order 
ST ABBO, Abbot of Fleury (+1004)
14. All Souls of the Benedictine Order
15. St FINTAN, Monk of Rheinau (+878)
16. St OTHMAR, Abbot of St Gall's (+759)
17. ST GERTRUDE THE GREAT, Nun at Helfta (+1301) 
18. St ODO, Abbot of Cluny (+942)
19. St MECHTILDIS, Nun at Helfta (+1298)
20. St BERNWARD, Bishop of Hildesheim (+1022)
21. Presentation of the B.V.M., Patronal Feast of the Oblates 
Bl GELASIUS O’CULLENAN, Abbot at Boyle, Martyr (+1584)
22. Bl JOHN THORN and Bl ROGER JAMES, Monks of Glastonbury, Martyrs (+1539)
23. St GUIDO, Abbot at Casauria (+1045)
24. Bl BALSAMUS, Abbot of Cava (+1232)
25. Bl TUSSANUS, Prior at Cluny (+1420)
26. St SYLVESTER, FOUNDER of the Sylvestrines (+1167)
27. St VIRGIL, Archbishop of Salzburg (+780)
28. St GERMANUS, Prior of Taloire (11th Century)
29. St RADBOD, Bishop of Utrecht (+918) 
30. St ANGELO, Abbot at Palermo (+1380)

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF ALL HOLY MONKS

Ant. The souls of the Saints, who have followed in the footsteps of Christ, rejoice in heaven; and, because they have despised the world for love of him, therefore do they exult with Christ forever.

V. But the just shall live for evermore.
R. And their reward is with the Lord.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the example of the holy Monks may stir us to a better life: so that we may imitate the actions of those whose memory we celebrate. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

O caelestis norma vitae

This traditional antiphon, in honour of St Benedict, is sung after Compline at the monthly meetings of the Sodality.