Hino de São Bento

Saint Benedict was a young Italian
Since he was a child, he liked to pray
From a noble Roman family
He went to live in Rome to study

Benedict was taken to the mountain
And he took shelter in a cave
And there he lived for three years
Just meditating and praying without stopping

May the sacred cross be my light
To guide and protect me
Against the enemy, come Saint Benedict
Praying to God to defend me

In the desert where he was
Only the hermit could visit him
He endured little food and even hunger
But God sent someone to help him

In the region there was a priest
Who one night was making his dinner
He heard a voice coming from the horizon
He stopped and listened

My servant Benedict is starving
In the desert with nothing to eat
The priest, with great sacrifice
Hastened to help him

Some time later Benedict was discovered
By shepherds who visited him
His fame quickly spread
And many people sought him out

Because of his holiness
He was invited to be the superior
Of a convent called Vicovaro
He soon accepted

Although he did not agree
With the way of life around him
The way the monks lived
Would not lead to following the Lord

An antipathy formed against Benedict
That almost took his life
They put poison in his cup
Which broke when he blessed the wine

Then Saint Benedict said
Forgive my Lord, my brothers
And then he left the convent
He said goodbye and withdrew from there