Contents Oratio Sancti Benedicti
Prayer of St Benedict
SBenedictusAb


This prayer is referred to as the Prayer of St Benedict. It appears in Alcuin's works (732-804).

Digneris mihi donare,
Pater pie et sancte,
intellectum qui te intelligat,
sensum qui te sentiat:
O loving and holy Father,
graciously grant me,
intellect to understand Thee,
and reason to discern Thee.
Animum qui te sapiat,
diligentiam quae te quaerat,
sapientiam quae te inveniat,
animum qui te cognoscat:
Grant me a spirit to know Thee,
diligence to seek Thee,
wisdom to find Thee,
and a mind to know Thee.
Viscera quae te ament,
cor quod te cogitet,
actum qui te augeat,
auditum qui te audiat:
Grant me a heart to love Thee,
a heart to know Thee,
deeds to praise Thee,
and ears to hear Thee.
Oculos qui te videant,
linguam quae te praedicet
conversationem quae tibi placeat,
patientiam quae te sustineat,
perseverantiam quae te exspectet:
Grant me eyes to see Thee,
a tongue to proclaim Thee,
conversation pleasing to Thee,
patience to wait for Thee,
and perseverance to look for Thee,
Finem perfectum,
praesentiam tuam sanctam,
resurrectionem bonam,
retributionem,
vitam aeternam.
Amen.
Grant me a perfect end,
Thy holy presence,
a blessed resurrection,
a heavenly reward,
and eternal life.
Amen.

Migne, Patrologia Latina, Alcuin, Tomus-CI, col. 553.


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