15 Days of Prayer with Saint Benedict

Born in 480 to a distinguished family in Nursia, Benedict as a young man abandoned his studies and gave up his inheritance to pursue a monastic life. He lived for several years as a hermit in Subiaco, where a group of monks seeking a spiritual leader joined him. After an attempt on his life he moved to Monte Cassino, where he founded the abbey considered the birthplace of the Benedictine order. At Monte Cassino Benedict wrote his Rule and died there in 547. Benedict required of himself and his monastic brothers a life of work, prayer and spiritual reading—a pattern that anyone may reproduce in some form today. Benedict asks us to listen carefully and look for God, to practice obedience, humility and renunciation and finally to lose ourselves in the liturgy, in the Scriptures and in prayer. Not everyone is called to the monastic ideal of poverty, chastity and obedience but even the busiest person may draw nearer to God and live humbly and prayerfully, in the spirit of Saint Benedict. A book in the 15 Days of Prayer series: On a journey, it’s good to have a guide. Even great saints took spiritual directors or confessors with them on their itineraries toward sanctity. Now you can be guided by the most influential spiritual figures of all time. The 15 Days of Prayer series introduces their deepest and most personal thoughts. This popular series is perfect if you are looking for a gift or if you want to be introduced to a particular guide and his or her spirituality. Each volume contains: • A brief biography of the saint or spiritual leader • A guide to creating a format for prayer or retreat • Fifteen meditation sessions with focus points and reflection guides