Novena for the Benedictines
Contents
Show HideThe Benedictines are a cloistered religious order. They were established in the 500s by St. Benedict. Benedictine monks and nuns follow the rule of St. Benedict to live out their monastic vocation.
The Benedictines live a way of life that is full of penance, prayer, and work. Let’s offer prayers in this Novena for the Benedictines that God will bless all Benedictines and bring fruit to their holy efforts!
About the Benedictines
St. Benedict of Nursia established the first Benedictine monastery in Italy around the year 529. He founded a famous monastery at Monte Cassino, which was destroyed by the Lombards around 580. When Monte Cassino was attacked, the monks fled to Rome. This helped knowledge of the Benedictine way of life to spread.
Despite the barbarian attacks, copies of St. Benedict’s rule survived. Pope Gregory I praised St. Benedict’s rule and St. Benedict around the year 594. In the years that followed, St. Benedict’s rule began to be used along with other rules by abbots of other monasteries.
By the eighth century, some English monks began to follow the rule of St. Benedict alone. They could be considered the first genuine Benedictines.
In the ninth century, almost all of Western Europe considered the Benedictine way of life to be standard for monastic living. Hundreds of monasteries of monks and nuns followed the rule of St. Benedict.
During this time, Benedictine monasteries became very important to society. Not only were they centers of religious life, they also became places of both theological and secular learning. Many Benedictines devoted themselves to writing and copying books. Schools in Benedictine monasteries brought about education for both clergy and lay people.
In 910, a large Benedictine monastery was established in Cluny. Hundreds of other monasteries were established under the Cluny monastery’s authority.
In the decades that followed, the Benedictine order began to fall into decay. Many people tried to bring about reform in the order by returning it to a simpler way of life and greater devotion to St. Benedict’s rule.
In the 1200s and early 1300s, popes worked to reform the Benedictine order, but they were not very successful.
During the Protestant revolt of the 16th century, monastic life was suppressed. In many areas, monastic life completely disappeared. But in some Catholic countries, the Benedictine order began to flourish again.
In the 18th century, monasticism was again threatened by new philosophical and political movements. But despite suppression and destruction, the Benedictine order began to flourish once more by the middle of the 19th century when many old monasteries were restored and new communities were established. Monasteries began to take charge of running missions, schools, seminaries, and parishes.
Currently, there are around 400 Benedictine monasteries, in which live about seven thousand five hundred monks. There are also around thirteen thousand Benedictine nuns. Benedictines today continue to devote themselves to a life of prayer and seclusion.
Why Pray the Novena for the Benedictines?
You can pray the Novena for the Benedictines for a particular member of the Benedictine order you know or for a particular monastery of Benedictines. You can use this novena to seek grace for all Benedictines or to ask God to help a group of Benedictines with a particular trouble or difficulty.
You can also pray the Novena for the Benedictines to ask God to increase vocations to the whole Benedictine order or to a particular Benedictine monastery. Additionally, you can pray this novena in thanksgiving if you have a great appreciation for the work the Benedictines do for the Church.
Novena for the Benedictines Prayers
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
You call each of us to serve You in a particular way in our lives. You have given members of the Benedictine religious order a special calling to a life of cloistered prayer. You can bring great grace to Your whole Church through the devoted life of prayer, work, and penance that the Benedictines practice each day.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You call more men and women to serve You as Benedictines.
Help us to always do all we can to serve You worthily in our lives. Give us the grace to love You more devotedly each day of our lives.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
The life of Benedictine monks is filled with difficult practices carried out for love of You. You call all Benedictine monks to lives of faithful prayer and work within the monastery. Each Benedictine monastery is in great need of Your grace and assistance as the monks strive to serve You faithfully in their prayer and work each day.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You pour out Your grace on each Benedictine monastery.
Help us to always rely on You for all that we need in our lives. Give us the grace to grow in unity with Your will each day of our lives.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
You call each of us to a particular vocation in our lives. You have called many women to serve You in the religious life. For Benedictine nuns, this vocation is one of great sacrifice as they spend much of their time in secluded prayer. You can give all Benedictine nuns the grace they need to carry out this vocation faithfully.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You pour out Your grace on all Benedictine nuns.
Help us to be eager to answer Your call in our lives, no matter how difficult it might be. Give us the grace to grow in holiness each day of our lives.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
Your Church is made up of imperfect people, and there are many ways that we fall short at times. Even within religious orders, Your people can falter and fail because of sin and imperfections. You can help all Benedictine monasteries that are in need of reform.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You pour out Your grace on all Benedictine monasteries that are in need of reform.
Help us to always turn to You for all of our needs and the needs of those around us. Give us the grace to rely fully on You in every circumstance we face in our lives.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
Benedictine monks and nuns live lives of great penance as they follow the rule of their founder, St. Benedict. The life of prayer and penance that Benedictines live can be full of great difficulty. But You call all people to offer penances out of love for You, and You can help all Benedictines to carry out their penances faithfully.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You help all Benedictines to grow in a spirit of penance.
Help us to always do all things out of love for You. Give us the grace to serve You with more devotion each day of our lives.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
You call each of us to an intimate relationship with You, and You give us many means to grow in that relationship. Carrying out pious practices and devotedly praying to You with piety can help us grow closer to You. In the lives of Your Benedictines, piety is very important for their holiness and their daily work of prayer.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You help all Benedictines to grow to a deeper piety.
Help us to make use of every help You give us for our salvation. Give us the grace to make our relationship with You our top priority in life.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
There are many things that can be difficult in the vocation to religious life. You call all religious to take vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty. Living out these vows in religious life requires great trust in You. You can help all of Your Benedictines to grow in the trust in You they need to faithfully live out their vocation.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You help all Benedictines to grow in trust in You.
Help us to always bring all of our needs to You in confidence. Give us the grace to rely more deeply on You each day of our lives.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
In our fallen world, there are many obstacles that can prevent us from living a life of holiness. You call each of us to strive against all temptations and every difficulty we face and to achieve virtuousness and great love for You. In the religious life of the Benedictines, monks and nuns must practice great perseverance to carry out their vocations faithfully.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You help all Benedictines to grow in perseverance.
Help us to grow in every virtue that we need for holiness. Give us the grace to take every opportunity You give us to grow closer to You.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Novena for the Benedictines - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for blessing Your Church with the Benedictine religious order. We humbly ask You to pour out Your grace on all Benedictines.
You have given us the ability to share in Your redemptive work by offering our own works and sufferings in union with Yours. Your Benedictine monks and nuns strive to live lives of constant prayer and work each day. You can help all Benedictines to grow in the ability to offer all that they do to You.
Please bless all members of the Benedictine religious order, and we particularly ask today that You help all Benedictines to grow in the ability to offer all things to You.
Help us to do all we can to truly strive for sainthood in our lives. Give us the grace to grow in unity with You each day of our lives.
And we especially ask today for (mention your intentions here).
Lord, hear our prayers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.