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The Rule of Benedict for Beginners: Spirituality for Daily Life

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Wil Derkse's book on the Rule of Benedict for beginners is a wonderful introduction to this subject. The Rule of St. Benedict itself is a fairly short book, usually printed in fewer than 100 pages, with its 73 chapters of a few paragraphs in length at most. However, often a simple reading of the Rule leaves modern readers dis-satisfied; it is a rule in many ways of and for a different world, just as the biblical texts can be so characterised. However, it is also, like the Bible, a text that speaks to us today, and has application and inspiration for modern followers.

Benedict's Rule for life includes worship, work, study, prayer, and relaxation. Benedict's Rule requires community -- even for those who become hermits or solitaries, there is a link to the community through worship and through the Rule. No one is alone. This is an important part of the relationship of God to the world, so it is an integral part of the Rule.

Benedict's Rule was set out first in a world that was torn with warfare, economic and political upheaval, and a generally harsh physical environment. This Rule was set out to bring order to a general chaos in which people lived. This is still true today, and men and women all over the world use Benedict's 'little rule for beginners' as a basic structure for their lives.

The first word of the rule is Listen. This is perhaps the best advice for anyone looking for any guidance or rule of life. While Benedict's Rule is decidedly Christocentric and hierarchical (though not as hierarchical as much popular ideas about monastic practice would have one think), it nonetheless can give value to any reader who is looking to construct a practice for oneself.

Benedict's establishment of a monastery was in fact the establishment of a school for spirituality. In his prologue to the Rule, Benedict even states this as his intention. In drawing up its regulations, he intends to set down 'nothing harsh, nothing burdensome.' He sets forth in this brief rule a guide to individual life within community that will bring one ever closer to the divine.

Benedict explores the issues of charity, personality, integrity, and spirituality in all of his rules. From the clothing to the prayer cycle to the reception of guests, all have a purpose that fits into a larger whole, and all have positive charges and negative warnings. Benedict is especially mindful of the sin of pride, be it pride of possession, pride of person, pride of place -- he strives for equality in the community (as a recognition that all are equal before God).

Derkse's book is not a handbook on Benedictine spirituality per se, but rather an introduction to those parts of the Benedictine practice that can be useful and adapted to life outside the monastery. Derkse is himself an oblate member of a Benedictine order - oblates are those who live outside the monastic community, but have ties to the community materially and spiritually, and adapt the Rule of Benedict to fit a secular life, with due reverence and concern for God.

Derkse recounts person experiences in his own growth toward oblature, as well as lessons learned from key aspects of the Rule. Modern issues such as time management, leadership, constancy and commitment, and attentiveness are addressed in ways consistent with both old and new practices. Those who seek a deeper spirituality in the world will be enlightened, but those who might want to adapt time-proven methods to modern situations will also find insight here.

This is a book of only 85 pages, but it can take a long time to read if one does so properly - Derkse recommends reading slowly and intently, letting the spirit form: this is reading for formation, not information.

If your on a spiritual quest, this book could be a God-send. It touches on the BASIC principles of the rule of St.Benedict. "That everything we do in life offers a chance to sing God's praises" is Benedictine spiritually in a nutshell. In the Benedictine attitude there are no nonreligious domains. There are no unholy and holy places, there are no unholy and holy times and activities. EVERYTHING needs to be regarded as holy, EVERYTHING is an object for sanctification. Whether were mopping the floor or cleaning the altar linens in church, we should approach things in the same manner - what a beautiful concept. The thing that attracts me most about Benedictine spiritually is that it is not mysterious, esoteric or unachieveable. It relates entirely with "living in this world"!
If this appeals to you - living like a monk in the real world - this book will serve as a place to "test the waters" before diving in(only 88 pages)and pursuing it more in depth.

While this book obviously has a role as a guide for Catholics wanting to develop a Benedictine spirituality in their life, there is a tremendous amount here that would be useful for anyone looking for new ways to overcome the petty distractions in life, and to get more out of both work and play. The foundation of the book may be the lives of Benedictine monks, but what they've learned over the centuries can be useful to all of us.

The book does a great job of illustrating the principles with real life examples, and doesn't paper over the challenges involved.

I often read 1 or 2 pages of this book before heading out in the morning and I think about it during the day. This is not academic or difficult reading, although such reading surely has its place. This book is more down to earth, though not simplistic. The principles of Benedictine living -- remaining with that to which one is committed, working to imrpove oneself, and careful attention -- are discussed in ways that pave the way for a reader to consider new possibilities for how they can be applied in one's life. This is not, as perhaps the title could imply, a recitation of the rule, but rather an exploration of it. Without being rigid or overly prescriptive, this book succeeds in giving the reader some ways of making the practice of spirituality concrete in day to day life. A big task and, as the title suggests, the book gives some real help to beginners.

This slender book is the most important one I've read in the past 25 years. It truly is. It has made me look at my workaholic life, and has made me ask the hard questions: what's my goal? how am I enjoying my journey? is life full of joy and peace? And, most importantly, do I go to sleep and wake up beautiful and joyful and present to life? What?????????? Me? The one who wakes up groaning in expectation of the trials ahead, and flops into bed at night glad that the hardest part of the day is over? I chuckle as I think back to my first experiences with this joy and peace business. It was hard work! And it still is, no lie. Now, lest you think this is a self-help text first, read the book and be surprised. It is a self-help book in so far that the message will help you. And the message is all about finding our incarnational God, at the heart of it all: slowing down, doing serious attending, stopping projects, and starting projects. I wish I had found this book years ago, but I might not have been ready. Something about the teacher appearing when the student is ready............... If you are ready, read this gem. Hope you find the Lord waiting for you.

Of all the books about living the Rule of St. Benedict as a lay person, I think this one is the best. Though not lengthy, it takes time to read and to ponder. If you're wondering about whether Western monastic principles might help you live your own life, outside a monastery, this gem is for you.

This is a brief, well written and organized book on the application of the Rule of Benedict to everyday life and work. It is a perfect book for "beginners," by which it is meant serious practicing religious and spiritual laypersons that "begin" at each moment, here and now and, practice attending to every activity with the same degree of gratitude and devotion. This is a book that can and must be read more than once and has applications for individual practice as well as group study. I recommend it highly to helping professionals.

If you ever wonder how to translate Benedictine spirituality into daily lay life, this book provides great practical suggestions. One of the major focuses of this book is one's ability to listen. In fact, as Derkse states, the first sentence of St Benedict's Rule starts with "Listen, my son". Most of us in the 21st century get very nervous when called to listen. But St Benedict is not calling for a subversive form of listening, rather he draws our attention to the virtues of attentive listening, the form of listening a physician uses when listening to a patient's heart, very attentive minimizing the risk of missing even the subtlest of sounds. Listening for St Benedict of course has a purpose, expressed in the Rule's very last word pervenies, as Derkse explains to arrive where we want to be. While listening is important for everyone, Derkse devotes special attention to how those in leadership roles should listen carefully, in order to stimulate those they work with to optimize their ability to grow. This is a radically different way of looking at leadership than one usually reads about and exemplifies how fundamentally different Christian leaders are called to be.
It is very fortunate that this book originally written in Dutch was translated into English, allowing many more readers to be inspired by Will Derkse's insights and interpretation of the Rule of St Benedict for lay people.

This book is a great introduction to Benedictine Spirituality. The writing is easy to understand. It is an aid to people interested in incorporating Rule into daily life.

Anyone wanting to learn more about Benedictine spirituality and lifestyle can hardly find a better book. Wil Derske writes in a simple, practical way about his experiences learning about monasticism and becoming a Benedictine Oblate. He covers a wide variety of monastic topics giving practical examples for the laity. It's a wonderful introduction for anyone wanting to learn more about the Rule of St. Benedict, the core of Benedictine life.