St. Basil of Caesarea
Born:
329 or 330 A.D.
Caesarea, Cappadocia
Died:
January 1 or 2, 379 A.D.
Caesarea, Cappadocia
Honored in:
Eastern and Western Christianity
Canonized:
Pre-Congregation
Feast Day:
January 1, 30 (Eastern Orthodox)
January 2 (Roman Catholic and Anglican)
January 15 (Coptic Orthodox)
June 14 (Roman, Episcopal, Lutheran)
Patron Saint of:
Patron Saint of Hospitals, Administrators, Reformers, Monks, Education, Russia
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.
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.
