Saint Benedict's RuleThe wisdom of St. Benedict, the eponymous founder of the order that would bear his name, comes vividly to life in this new and sparkling, contemporary English translation of and introduction to Benedict's Rule, the seminal guide for life in Christian monastic community. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-543), born into nobility, renounced his life of privilege to live an eremitic life of extreme asceticism. He became Abbot of the monastic community of Monte Cassino, where he wrote the Rule, acknowledged as his masterpiece. Modestly referring to the work that would chart the course of Western monasticism as "a little rule for beginners," in 73 brief, intensely focused and sympathetically written treatises and prologue, Benedict prescribed for his monastics a religious life in community with other Christians predicated upon mutual support, obedience, hospitality, tolerance and moderation. The Rule concerns practical matters--the types and characteristics of monastics and their vows, the rules and regulations governing authority, administration and ownership, detailed descriptions of the rights and duties given the entire community. Practical themes, however, remain secondary to its primary focus, the beating heart of the Rule, Jesus and His teachings: Jesus in loving obedience to His father, and Jesus in His message of love for and hospitality toward all. It is upon this bedrock that the Benedictine order is and remains anchored. + |
Contents
Introduction to the Rule of Saint Benedict | 1 |
A Note about Numbering | 42 |
Saint Benedicts Rule | 43 |
Prologue to the Rule | 45 |
Four Approaches to Monastic Life | 51 |
Gifts Needed by an Abbot or Abbess | 53 |
Calling the Community Together for Consultation | 57 |
Guidelines for Christian and Monastic Good Practice | 59 |
The Weekly Reader | 105 |
The Amount of Food To Be Made Available | 106 |
The Proper Amount of Drink To Be Provided | 107 |
The Times for Community Meals | 109 |
The Great Silence after Compline | 110 |
Latecomers for the Work of God or in the Refectory | 111 |
The Reconciliation of Those Excommunicated | 113 |
Mistakes in the Oratory | 114 |
Monastic Obedience | 63 |
Cherishing Silence in the Monastery | 65 |
The Value of Humility | 66 |
The Divine Office at Night | 74 |
The Night Office in Summertime | 76 |
The Celebration of Solemn Lauds | 78 |
The Celebration of Vigils on Feasts of Saints | 80 |
The Hours of the Work of God During the Day | 81 |
The Number of Psalms To Be Sung at the Hours | 82 |
The Order for Reciting the Psalms | 83 |
Our Approach to Prayer | 85 |
The Ideal of True Reverence in Prayer | 86 |
The Deans of the Monastery | 87 |
Sleeping Arrangements for the Community | 88 |
Faults That Deserve Excommunication | 89 |
Different Degrees of Severity in Punishment | 90 |
Punishment for More Serious Faults | 91 |
Unlawful Association with the Excommunicated | 92 |
The Treatment of Those Who Relapse | 94 |
The Readmission of Any Who Leave the Monastery 30 The Correction of Young Children | 95 |
The Qualities Required by the Cellarer | 96 |
The Tools and Property of the Monastery | 98 |
Personal Possessions in the Monastery | 99 |
Fair Provision for the Needs of All | 100 |
Weekly Servers in the Kitchen and at Table | 101 |
The Care of the Sick in the Monastery | 103 |
Care for the Elderly and the Young | 104 |
Faults Committed Elsewhere | 115 |
Signaling the Times for the Work of God | 116 |
Daily Manual Labor | 117 |
How Lent Should Be Observed in the Monastery | 119 |
Those Whose Work Takes Them a Long Distance from the Oratory | 121 |
Those on Local Errands or Work | 122 |
The Reception of Guests | 123 |
The Reception of Letters and Gifts in the Monastery | 126 |
Clothing and Footwear for the Community | 127 |
The Table for the Superior and Community Guests | 129 |
The Reception of Candidates for the Community | 130 |
Children Offered by Nobles or by the Poor | 133 |
The Admission of Priests into the Monastery | 134 |
Monastic Pilgrims from Far Away | 135 |
The Priests of the Monastery | 137 |
Community Order | 138 |
The Election of an Abbot or Abbess | 140 |
The Prior or Prioress of the Monastery | 143 |
The Porter or Portress of the Monastery | 145 |
Those Who Are Sent on a Journey | 146 |
The Response to Orders That Seem Impossible | 147 |
No One Should Act as Advocate for Another | 148 |
Mutual Obedience in the Monastery | 149 |
The Good Spirit That Should Inspire Monastic Life | 150 |
This Rule Is Only a Beginning | 151 |
Additional Notes | 153 |
Common terms and phrases
abbot or abbess accept achieve Ampleforth Abbey antiphon Apostles avoid beauty Benedict Benedict's Rule Benedictine blessing bring cellarer chapter 72 chapter Additional Notes choir Christ Christian Church Compline Corinthians eternal everything evil excommunication faithful Father faults fear follow fulfill gift give given glory God's gospel guests guidance guilty heart holy hour human inspiration laity Lauds lectio divina lives Lord Lord's Luke Matthew meal meaning mind monastery monastic monasticism monks and nuns Monte Cassino murmuring never obedience Opus Dei oratory ourselves peace perseverance pray prayer prior or prioress prologue Psalm 14 psalmist punishment receive reception recited reflect remember responsibility responsories reverence Romans sacred Saint Benedict's says seek seniors Sext sick silence Sirach souls spirit step of humility Sunday superior teaching Terce three psalms translation understanding Vatican Vatican II verse versicle Vespers Vigils vision whole community