Abbey of Regina Laudis: Readings

On July 11th the Church celebrated the Feast of the Birth of St. Benedict, Founder of the Benedictine Order and Co-Patron of Europe with Saints Cyril and Methodius. St. Benedict was born around the year 480 A.D. Known as the "Father of Western Monasticism", he gave civilization his Holy Rule for Monks which has been followed by Benedictine, Trappist and Cistercian Communities and Laity for centuries. What we do know about the life of St. Benedict comes to us in the Second Book of the Dialogues of Pope St. Gregory the Great, written about 50 years after the death of St. Benedict. One of the readings for the Office of Matins for the Feast was taken from the Apostolic Letter of Pope Paul VI entitled St. Benedict of Nursia, Co-Patron of Europe. Each year as we sing the Antiphons for the Feast, taken from the Dialogues and recounting the life and miracles of St. Benedict, we are filled with gratitude to share in the inheritance of the Saint. We feel inspired to share that inheritance with you through a series of readings by Mother Dolores of texts about St. Benedict, beginning with the Letter of Pope Paul VI, followed by chapters from the Second Book of the Dialogues of Pope St. Gregory the Great.

Enjoy this series of readings by Mother Dolores Hart:

From the Apostolic Letter of Pope Paul VI on St. Benedict of Nursia, Co-Patron of Europe.

Saint Benedict has the reputation of being the messenger of peace, the maker of unity, the master of civilization, and especially the herald of Christianity and the author of monasticism in the West.

From the Life and Miracles of St. Benedict by Pope St. Gregory the Great,
Prologue and Part 1 of Chapter I.

There was a man of venerable life, blessed by grace, and blessed in name, for he was called "Benedictus" or Benedict.

From the Life and Miracles of St. Benedict by Pope St. Gregory the Great, Chapter I, continued,
St. Benedict Flees to Subiaco.

The man of God, Benedict, coming to this foresaid place, lived there in a narrow cave, where he continued three years unknown to all men, except to Romanus.

A Reflection on St. Benedict by Abbot Cuthbert Butler, O.S.B.,
The Young St. Benedict in the Cave of Subiaco.

And as the features of the landscape gradually took shape, my thoughts went back to a youth who just fourteen centuries before had passed the years of opening manhood in that cave.

From the Life and Miracles of St. Benedict by Pope St. Gregory the Great, Chapter VII,
How Maurus Walked Upon the Water.

Brother Maurus, run as fast as you can, for Placidus, that went to the lake to fetch water, is fallen in, and is carried a good way off.

Plus a short reflection on our beloved Mother Placid by Mother Dolores!