Benedictine Reform around the World

Over Christmas, two news items have reported the "renewal of the monastic spirit" among the sons of St Benedict, that is much to be desired.

The Reform in the Trappist Abbey of Mariawald: "Putting God back at the center of the life of the monastery"

http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-reform-in-trappist-monastery-of.html

"In 2008, the sole Trappist Monastery in Germany, the Abbey of Mariawald, became the first (and, so far, the only) Trappist monastery to completely return to the pre-Conciliar liturgical books since the liturgical reforms of the 1960s. ..."

New Traditional Benedictine Cloister Founded on Sardinia

http://eponymousflower.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/new-traditional-benedictine-cloister.html

"On the Mediterranean island of Sardinia there is a new traditional cloister of eremitical Benedictines. ... Eight years ago some faithful began the traditional group under the spiritual direction of a priest of the Ecclesia Dei Community, a common life in the spirit of Benedictine Monasticism and the "Old Rite". ... After several years of living in a private home and in the midst of the world, they wish to have their own monastery.  They found a place of retreat and a piece of land which could be acquired in a remote location. ...  2012 has begun with the construction of the monastery.  The cell block is now largely complete. In 2013, the church and the cloisters will be built. ..."

We pray that God, having enabled them to begin this good work, will also enable them to complete it.

St Benedict, Patriarch of Monks, pray for us.

Daily Prayer for Aspirant Traditional Benedictines

Those who wish to join to the Aspirant Traditional Benedictines in prayer for their intentions, and discernment of their vocations, are earnestly requested to say the following prayers daily, or as often as circumstances permit.

Sancta Maria, succurre miseris, juva pusillanimes, refove flebiles, ora pro populo, interveni pro clero, intercede pro monachorum choro, exora pro devoto femineo sexu; sentiant omnes tuum juvamen, quicumque devote celebrant tuum sanctum nomen.

O Holy Mary, give aid to the wretched, strengthen the fainthearted, comfort the sorrowing, pray for the faithful, plead for the clergy, intercede for the choirs of monks, and pray for all good women vowed to God; may all experience thy help, who devoutly commemorate thy holy name.

Ant. Sanctissime Confessor Domini, Monachorum pater et dux, Benedicte, intercede pro nostra omniumque salute. V. Amavit eum Dominus et ornavit eum. R. Stolam gloriae induit eum. Oremus Excita, Domine, in Ecclesia tua Spiritum, cui beatus Pater noster Benedictus Abbas servivit: ut eodem nos repleti, studeamus amare quod amavit, et opere exercere quod docuit. Da nobis, quaesumus, Domine, perseverantem in tua voluntate famulatum: ut in diebus nostris et merito et numero populus tibi serviens augeatur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

Ant. Most holy Confessor of the Lord, Benedict, Father and Guide of monks, intercede for our salvation and the salvation of all. V. The Lord loved him and adorned him. R. He clothed him with a robe of glory. Let us pray. Raise up, O Lord, in thy Church, the Spirit wherewith our holy Father Benedict was animated: that, filled with the same,  we may strive to love what he loved, and to practise what he taught. Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord, persevering submission to thy holy Will, that in our days the people dedicated to thy service may increase both in merit and in number. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

The Holy Rule of St Benedict

The Holy Rule of St Benedict, in an English translation by Dom Oswald Hunter Blair, sometime Abbot of Fort Augustus, is available on the following link (which is maintained by one of our supporters):

http://liturgialatina.org/benedictine/holyrule.htm

"Hearken, O my son, to the precepts of thy Master, and incline the ear of thine heart; willingly receive and faithfully fulfil the admonition of thy loving Father, that thou mayest return by the labour of obedience to Him from Whom thou hadst departed through the sloth of disobedience. To thee, therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever thou art that, renouncing thine own will, dost take up the strong and bright weapons of obedience, in order to fight for the Lord Christ, our true king. In the first place, whatever good work thou beginnest to do, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect; that He Who hath now vouchsafed to count us in the number of His children may not at any time be grieved by our evil deeds. For we must always so serve Him with the good things He hath given us, that not only may He never, as an angry father, disinherit his children, but may never, as a dreadful Lord, incensed by our sins, deliver us to everlasting punishment, as most wicked servants who would not follow Him to glory."

From the Prologue to the Rule.

Advent Sunday 2012

Today marks the start of our year of discernment. Please pray for us in our project of starting a traditional Benedictine monastery in Great Britain.

Excita, quaesumus, Domine, potentiam tuam et veni; ut ab imminentibus peccatorum nostrorum periculis, te mereamur protegente eripi, te liberante salvari.
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy power and come; that by thy protection we may be freed from the imminent dangers of our sins, and be saved by thy mercy.
(Collect)

Lesson of the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans.
Brethren, know that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day: not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and impurities, not in contention and envy: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Romans 13:11-14)

In Thy Advent O Lord, Have mercy on us.

Our Lady, Queen of Monks, Pray for us.

St Benedict, Patriarch of Monks, Pray for us.