St Benedict of Nursia (Italy) ca 547 Abbott of Monte Cassino ,ca 547 and his sister St Scholastica, Monastic, ca 547

  Samuel 17:45

You 

come 

to me 

with 

sword 

and 

spear 

and 

javelin; 

but I come

to you

in the name 

of the Lord 

of hosts…. 

Benedict is the Father of western monasticism. 

He would surely recog-nize the same spirit of “pru-dent leniency” in his Rule reflected in the polity and spirit of Anglicanism, as well as the watch-word: Ora et Labora. This is often translated as Work and Pray but it is rightly Pray and Work. (The order matters!) He would certainly recognize the Daily Office made available to all in The Book of Common Prayer. 

 Pray today for the grace to listen; for the . courage to put Christ first every-
thing; for the gift of obed-ience to God’s commands; for all who seek purity of life; for those among us who are signs of the kingdom of God, and for all monastic communities who follow the Benedictine Rule, especially our own Order of the Holy Cross.

                             (Thanks as ever to 
The New Book of Lutheran Services from which marvelous book these prayers were adapted.)
                                        When we are called to face a Goliath in our life, may the memory of David’s courage encourage us to stand bravely in our own skin. (Based on todays Forward Day by Day)