What, then, is more blessed than to imitate
on earth the choirs of angels
hastening at break of day to pray
to glorify the
Creator with hymns and songs,
and, when the sun is brightly shining
we turn to our tasks,
accompanying them everywhere with prayers,
seasoning the daily work with hymns,
as food with salt?
—St. Basil the Great
on earth the choirs of angels
hastening at break of day to pray
to glorify the
Creator with hymns and songs,
and, when the sun is brightly shining
we turn to our tasks,
accompanying them everywhere with prayers,
seasoning the daily work with hymns,
as food with salt?
—St. Basil the Great
Basil of Caesarea,Saint Basil the Great (329-379)
Patron Saint of Hospitals, Administrators, reformers, Monks, Liturgists, education
January 1 or 2, 379), was the bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He was an influential theologian who supported the Nicene Creed and opposed the heresies of the early Christian church, fighting against both Arianism and the followers of Apollinaris of Laodicea. His ability to balance his theological convictions with his political connections made Basil a powerful advocate for the Nicene position.
In addition to his work as a theologian, Basil was known for his care of the poor and underprivileged. Basil established guidelines for monastic life which focus on community life, liturgical prayer, and manual labor. Together with Pachomius, he is remembered as a father of communal monasticism in Eastern Christianity. He is considered a saint by the traditions of both Eastern and Western Christianity.
Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Gregory of Nyssa are collectively referred to as the Cappadocian Fathers. The Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches have given him, together with Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom, the title of Great Hierarch. He is recognized as a Doctor of the Church in the Roman Catholic Church. He is sometimes referred to by the epithet Ouranophantor, "revealer of heavenly mysteries".
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PRAYERS OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT
O Lord our God, we beseech you, to ask for the gift we need. Steer the ship of our life to yourself, the quiet harbor of all storm-stressed souls. Show us the course which we are to take. Renew in us the spirit of docility. Let your Spirit curb our fickleness; guide and strengthen us to perform what is for our own good, to keep your commandments and ever to rejoice in your glorious and vivifying presence. Yours is the glory and praise for all eternity. Amen.
Saint Basil's Prayer
The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.
Dear God, enlarge in us our sense of fellowship
with the animals to whom Thou gave the earth
to be a common home before us
and who share with us the toils, trials, and joys of life.
We remember with sorrow that, in the past,
we have often exercised the high dominion of our kind
with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth
which should have gone up to Thee in song
has so often risen instead as a groan of travail.
May we realize that they live not for us alone
but for themselves and for Thee
and that they, too, love the sweetness of life. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Basil of Caesarea
Deeper Sense of Fellowship
With all Living Things
O God, grant us a deeper sense of fellowship
With all living things
Our little brothers and sisters
To whom in common with us
You have given this earth as home.
We recall with regret that in the past
We have acted high handedly
And cruelly in exercising our domain over them
Thus the voice of the earth
Which should have risen to you in song
Has turned into a groan of travail.
May we realize that all these creatures
Also live for themselves and for you,
Not for us alone.
They too love the goodness of life,
As we do, and serve you better
In their way than we do in ours.
Amen.
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