For Ourselves and Our Siblings
A few weeks back, I asked the Catholic tweeps to pray for my little sister during some rather difficult times she was having at school and at home. The response was overwhelming, and Trista mentioned that we ought to do a novena for ourselves and our siblings. After doing some research, she came up with the idea to pray to Saints Benedict and Scholastica.
If you’re like me, who didn’t know what a novena (noh-vee-nuh) was, it’s simply a devotion consisting of prayers for nine consecutive days. We’re planning to start next Monday (July 11th), which just so happens to be the feast day for St. Benedict! So, for nine days, beginning on the 11th, we will pray the prayer below, followed by an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be. Oh, and just in case you don’t know much about Benedict and Scholastica, we’ve included a quick bio for your viewing and learning pleasure!
If you’d like to join us, please leave a comment below, so we can include everyone’s intentions as we all pray together. If you don’t have any siblings, feel free to pray for the participants and their siblings or to join in and pray for those whom you consider like siblings.
Also, please help us spread the word!
The Story of Sts. Benedict & Scholastica
Sts. Benedict and Scholastica were twins born in Nursia, Italy in the early 400s. After St. Benedict founded the Benedictine Order at Monte Cassino, he established a convent, where his sister, St. Scholastica, became the first Benedictine nun.
Though the siblings had a great love for each other, the rules of their homes prohibited them from visiting at the monastery, and they were permitted one visit at a local home per year. During one such visit, Scholastica asked Benedict and his monks to stay the night, so that they could continue to talk about heaven and other spiritual matters. Benedict refused, saying he could not be gone a full night from his Abbey.
At his answer, Scholastica bowed her head and began to cry and pray. Within seconds, a severe thunderstorm raged outside. Gregory the Great later explained that “her prayer and the rain did so meet together…that in one and the very same instant, she lifted up her head and brought down the rain.”
Benedict was not pleased with this turn of events. ”God forgive you, what have you done?” he complained.
“I desired you to stay, and you would not hear me. I asked our good Lord, and he has granted my petition,” Scholastica replied. Benedict and his monks were forced to spend the night and stayed up late talking of heaven.
This was the last visit between Scholastica and Benedict. Three days later, Scholastica died.
History paraphrased from http://saintbenedict.org/stscholastica.htm
The Novena Prayer
Dear Saints Benedict and Scholastica,
As siblings you encouraged each other to grow in faith and love of God;
As saints, you encourage the world to do the same.
We turn to your knowledge of the struggles as siblings, from different perspectives and desires, to time and distance spent apart.
Despite the struggles, you also experienced the fruits of friendship, love, and support.
We humbly pray for your intercession, for ourselves and our siblings. Open our hearts to the Lord; guide us on the path to holiness; and bind us together, so that one day we will greet you in heaven with our siblings by our side.
Our Father–Hail Mary–Glory Be
