REEP - Collective Worship

Saint Benno

Key Stage

1 and 2

Theme

Saint Benno / Thankfulness

Preparation

Choose children to play the part of the sheep, the birds and the frogs. They could make appropriate animal masks. When, at the end of the story, you ask what the animals might have been giving thanks for, these children could have been given time to think about appropriate answers (e.g. The sheep might give thanks for the fresh green grass, the chance to run about, getting rid of their thick winter wool...). You might also have some large pictures of other animals - perhaps ones that live elsewhere in the world - and ask some questions about them.

Background

The story of 'St Benno and the Frogs' can be found in Helen Waddell's Beasts and Saints, first published in 1934 and reprinted many times since. The original version includes only frogs: the version here has been expanded.

The prayer at the end is an adaptation of the Benedicite, Omnia Opera which is found in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. This was, supposedly, the song sung by the young men thrown into the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar.

Development

NARRATOR: Once there was a very holy man. His name was Benno. He was so holy that he prayed nearly all day long. He would go into the woods, kneel down - and pray for hour after hour. One day in late spring or early summer he went out as usual. He saw that everything was very beautiful - the blossom on the trees, the swallows skimming through the blue sky, the warmth of the air... He knew his main prayer today would be to thank God for all of these beautiful things. So Benno kneeled down, opened his mouth and...

SHEEP: BAAAA!

NARRATOR: It was the sheep in a nearby fold. 'Stop that!' shouted Benno, 'I can't think with that row going on, let alone pray!' So the sheep, who knew that they had to obey such a holy person, stopped bleating. Benno got down on his knees again and opened his mouth to pray...

BIRDS: TWEET! TWEET! TWEET!

NARRATOR: 'I can't believe it,' Benno grumbled. He looked up. There was a blackbird's nest in one of the trees. Some eggs had just hatched and the fledglings were making a racket. 'Excuse me, you lot up there, someone's trying to pray down here. Could you please, Mrs Blackbird, stop your infants from making such a din!' So Mrs Blackbird, who knew she had to obey such a holy person, chopped up a worm and popped it into her young ones' mouths and told them that they had to stay quiet. Benno got down on his knees and opened his mouth to pray...

FROGS: CROAK! CROAK! CROAK!

NARRATOR: 'I can't believe it! I just can't believe it!' shouted Benno. 'You lot in that pond - PIPE DOWN! - I'm trying to pray!'

FROGS: CROAK! CROAK! CROAK!

NARRATOR: But Benno still couldn't pray. 'It's still not good enough! TURN IT OFF COMPLETELY!' But one young frog was enjoying himself so much that he just couldn't stop.

FROGS: CROAK! CROAK! CROAK!

NARRATOR: Benno was really cross by now. 'That's it! I have had enough! Right. I WANT EVERY ANIMAL IN THIS WOOD TO LISTEN TO ME. I am a very holy person and it's my job to pray, but I can't pray with all this racket going on - so you're all going to have to shut up. Stop making such a din!' As soon as he said this, the wood fell silent. Benno was really pleased. He got down on his knees and opened his mouth to pray...

But nothing happened. He tried to make his tongue make some sounds - but words just wouldn't come out. He put his fingers in his mouth and gave his tongue a twiddle - but it was no use. The words still wouldn't happen. And then a verse from the Bible came into his head: 'O ye whales and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord. O ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord.' And he realised that the baaing of the sheep, and the singing of the birds, and the croaking of the frogs, might be pleasing to God - in fact might be even more pleasing than his own prayers. So he said sorry to all the animals and told them they could make as much noise as they liked. And from that moment his tongue was loosened and he could pray again.

The End.

So... What's this story all about? Many Christians think that if we have a basic purpose, then it's to give thanks to God. Not just for ourselves, but for all of creation. Perhaps animals are giving thanks to God in their own way, but we just don't understand them! What do you think the animals might have been saying thanks for, if only Benno had been able to understand? Benno's problem was that he didn't realise his own prayer was only part of a much bigger prayer that all of creation offers to God.

Reflection

Let's be quiet for a moment and think about all the beautiful animals that live in the world, and for the beautiful things that they - and we - have to be thankful for.

Here are some words from a very old prayer that reminds us that our thanks are only a small part of the song of thanks that is sung by all creation:

Sun and moon, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him for ever.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him for ever.
Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him for ever.
All green things on the earth, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him for ever.
Whales and all sea creatures, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him for ever.
Birds of the air, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him for ever.
Beasts and cattle, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him for ever.
All humankind, bless the Lord, praise him and magnify him for ever.

Music

St Francis' song: All Creatures of our God and King.