Traditional litany for private devotion

Traditional litany for private devotion

Litany of Saint Benedict

For 11 July and 21 March — the father of Western monks, with the Medal

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, father of the monks of the West, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, patriarch of Monte Cassino, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, patron of Europe, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst leave the world in thy youth, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst live three years in the cave of Subiaco, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst conquer temptation by rolling in the thorns, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst write the Rule for monasteries, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, master of prayer and work, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, model of humility, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, example of obedience, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, lover of silence, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst make water spring from the rock, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst shatter the poisoned cup with the sign of the cross, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst restore the iron to the axe handle, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst raise the peasant’s son to life, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst see the soul of Saint Scholastica rise to heaven, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, terror of demons, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, protector against poison and witchcraft, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, patron of a happy death, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, who didst die standing, before the altar, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, light of the Church, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, glory of the monastic life, pray for us.
Saint Benedict, our father and protector, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

℣ Pray for us, Saint Benedict.
℟ That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

O God, who didst make Saint Benedict an outstanding master in the school of thy service: grant that, preferring nothing to thy love, we may run with hearts enlarged in the way of thy commandments. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SourceTraditional litany for private devotion · For 11 July and 21 March — the father of Western monks, with the Medal

The history of this prayer

St Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547), father of the monks of the West and patron of Europe, is known for his Rule and his Medal. The litany goes through the life St Gregory the Great told in the Dialogues: the cave of Subiaco, the temptation overcome in the thorns, the poisoned cup that broke at the sign of the cross, the recovered axe, the peasant’s son raised to life, the soul of St Scholastica rising like a dove, and his death standing before the altar after Communion.

The titles "terror of demons" and "protector against poison and witchcraft" come from the Medal, whose initials are explained on the traditional prayers page. It is prayed on 11 July (feast in the present calendar), 21 March (his death, in the traditional calendar) and together with the Medal. A litany for private devotion; our own rendering.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Litany of St Benedict prayed?

On 11 July, the feast of St Benedict, on 21 March (the date of his death, in the traditional calendar), and together with the prayer of the Medal of St Benedict.

Why is St Benedict invoked against poison?

Because monks who wanted to kill him gave him poisoned wine, and the cup broke when he blessed it with the sign of the cross. The Medal recalls this in the initials V R S N S M V.

What is St Benedict patron of?

Of Europe (since Paul VI, 1964), of monks, of the dying and of a happy death, and he is invoked against the devil, poison and temptation.

More prayers: Litanies

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