submitted by Oblate Robert Hill – Br. Nicholas

“PREFER NOTHING TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST”  RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: CHAPTER 4. 

Since this feast day, the “passing” of St Benedict into Paradise, is always during Lent, another commemoration date was set when Pope Paul VI declared St. Benedict the Patron of Europe at the rededication of the Church at Monte Cassino on July 11, 1964. 

July 11 is the Feast of St. Benedict for the Universal Church. Only Mary, the mother of Jesus and John the Baptist are remembered with both their birthdays and their day of entry into heaven.

 St. Gregory the Great writes about St. Benedict’s last days:

“Six days before he died, he gave orders for his tomb to be opened. Almost immediately, he was seized with a violent fever that rapidly wasted his remaining energy. Each day his condition grew worse until finally, on the sixth day, he had his disciples carry him into the chapel where he received the Body and Blood of our Lord to gain strength for his approaching end. Then, supporting his weakened body on the arms of his brethren, he stood with his hands raised to heaven and, as he prayed, breathed his last.” (St. Gregory the Great, Book Two of Dialogues, chapter 37).

[“Transitus means just that in Latin: a passing from one state to the next. It’s not a euphemism for death but the recognition that death isn’t the end. Death, for the Christian, is a point of departure”. Jodi Gehr, Benedictine Oblate]

+ Pax +

Brother Nicholas 

Jesus said:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word will never see death.” John 8:51

•  photo is “used for educational and non commercial purposes. Attribution unknown”