HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST BENEDICT 2

 HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT BENEDICT OF NURSIA JULY 11 2020

Today is the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, the author of the Rule of St. Benedict whos honored by many as the father of Western monasticism. One of the earliest biographies of his life was written by Pope St. Gregory the Great, and it includes many stories of incredible miracles performed by the monk. I will do well to share one of the miracles with us. During the novena, I was able to put down the miracles.

Today is my own special day. I was given the name BENIGNUS for baptism. Perhaps, Fr Osuji Canice of Blessed Memory may have come across the name in Italian, either through reading or during his studies over there. Benignus means Simplicity, Kindness,. When I became a Mass Server, I was so much interested in serving at benediction because I get fulfilled after the spiritual exercise. Later, I came to know through reading liturgical books that benediction is the art of blessing. Blessing is BENEDICTUS. I decided to choose this name for my confirmation. Hence the confirmation name BENEDICT. Another assignment I have is to look up for Saints who bear this name. Prominent among them is the Patriarch of Western Monasticism, BENEDICT OF NURSIA. Papa Benedict has an excellent spirituality. God made use of him, such that he is our example till date.

One of the miracles recorded for him says: During a construction project at the abbey, Satan himself came to St. Benedict and told him that he planned on attacking the monks working on the project. Benedict at once sent a message of warning to the workers. Just as soon as the message arrived, a partially completed wall collapsed on a small boy who was helping with the work, killing him. Grief stricken, the monks brought the dead, mangled body to Benedict, who laid the childs corpse on a table, sent everyone out of the room, and started praying. Miraculously, the boy came back to life, his body healed of all injuries.

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was thinking of him in part when he was elected Pope in 2005 and chose the name Benedict XVI. As the Pope has said, may St. Benedict encourage us all (as he sought to do with his Rule and his life) to put Christ first in our thoughts and in our actions.

The Rule of St. Benedict has been used by monasteries all throughout the West for centuries. It champions listening to Gods word and doing His work through a life of prayer, temperance, charity, obedience, patience and humility. The Rule was considered rigorous, yet not unbendingly so, when Benedict first introduced it in his writings.

In addition to praying a novena to St. Benedict, many people wear a St. Benedict medal for spiritual protection. The wearing and use of the medal has been called a silent prayer to God to grant us, through the merits of St. Benedict, the favors we request. St. Gregory the Great, who chronicled some of Benedicts miracles a few years after his death, called him a shining light to the world.

I would like us to reflect a little from a section in the Rule of Life captioned: *PUT CHRIST BEFORE EVERYTHING.*

Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection; that he, who has honoured us by counting us among his children, may never be grieved by our evil deeds. For we must always serve him with the good things he has given us in such a way that he may never  as an angry father disinherits his sons or even like a master who inspires fear  grow impatient with our sins and consign us to everlasting punishment, like wicked servants who would not follow him to glory. So we should at long last rouse ourselves, prompted by the words of Scripture: Now is the time for us to rise from sleep. Our eyes should be open to the God-given light, and we should listen in wonderment to the message of the divine voice as it daily cries out: Today, if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts; and again: If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. And what does the Spirit say? Come my sons, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Hurry, while you have the light of life, so that deaths darkness may not overtake you.

 And the Lord as he seeks the one who will do his work among the throng of people to whom he makes that appeal, says again: Which of you wants to live to the full; who loves long life and the enjoyment of prosperity? And, if when you hear this you say, I do, God says to you: If you desire true and everlasting life, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceit; turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. And when you have done these things my eyes will be upon you and my ears will be attentive to your prayers; and before you call upon my name I shall say to you: Behold, I am here. What could be more delightful, dearest brothers [and sisters], than the voice of our Lords invitation to us? In his loving kindness he reveals to us the way of life.

And so, girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his paths by the guidance of the Gospel; then we shall deserve to see him who has called us into his kingdom. If we wish to attain a dwelling-place in his kingdom we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good deeds.

Just as there exists an evil fervour, a bitter spirit, which divides us from God and leads us to hell, so there is a good fervour which sets us apart from evil inclinations and leads us toward God and eternal life. Monks should put this fervour into practice with an overflowing love: that is, they should surpass each other in mutual esteem, accept their weaknesses, either of body or of behaviour, with the utmost patience; and vie with each other in acceding to requests. No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for another. They should display brotherly love in a chaste manner; fear God in a spirit of love; revere their abbot with a genuine and submissive affection. Let them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting life.

Let us pray: God, helps us to follow your teachings in the examples of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Saint Benedict, through Christ Our Lord.

© Rev Fr Utazi Prince Marie Benignus Zereuwa