Customer Reviews

The Rule of St. Benedict (An Image Book Original)

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Benedict, having dropped out of university because he viewed the life there as degenerated, goes into the bush and makes his abode in a crack in the side of a mountain. Upon coming out he writes the moral code for the next 1,400 years! This is that code or set of rules.

Some of the book is dry - namely the end of it which goes over seating arangements for meals and other architectural details but the historical end of it is interesting and so are his guidelines for clean living in a monastic setting (which one can employ almost anywhere with the right focus).

The Rule of St. Benedict is in and of itself a fairly short book, fewer than 100 pages. It is a good example of the statement, 'good things come in small packages'. This volume, translated and with an introduction by Anthony Meisel and M.L. del Mastro, presents an historical context as well as their own translation of the Latin text of the Rule. The thirty-page introduction discusses the biography of St. Benedict, the formation of the rule, and the way it has been passed down through the ages in monastic community.

Benedict was fully aware of human frailty, as true 1500 years ago as it is today. This frailty requires much to be done to give the person strength, and so Benedict's Rule is designed for an ever-increasing self-discipline which is supported by community worship and practice.

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, we hope 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).

Hundreds of thousands of pages have been written over the last millenium and a half on the Rule of St. Benedict, but it all comes down to this brief collection, which can be read easily in an hour, yet takes a lifetime (or perhaps more!) to master.

Open it for yourself to see what riches it may hold for you.

This particular text ends with a good list of selected readings, a bit lacking for the latest of publications, but with 1500 years worth of texts from which to choose, there are plenty of selections worthwhile. There is also a composite plan of a medieval monastery -- this is not a master plan; indeed, all monasteries vary from each other in certain aspects, so this is a general idea.

While the historical context that is so lucidly described in the introduction to this translation is fascinating in itself, the rule resonates with a disciplined approach to spiritual development in a communal setting. Placed in an appropriate historical context the "rule" is remarkable for its attention to physical and spiritual detail in the structured life of a monastery. Anyone interested in monasticsm or church history will be well rewarded by reading this.

I had heard a lot of quotes from various saints, including Benedict, but this was my first attempt to read some of their writing. It was well worth it. The first part of the book gives a solid background on Benedict, his experiences and where he was coming from. It also oriented me to what the rules were about. This is an instruction book for people who took a vow that is pretty overwhelming for most people to comprehend today.

St Benedict makes one really consider what is needed in life and to whom we owe what. In rule 55 he says, "Bedding shall consist of a mattress, coverlet, blanket, and pillow. The abbot will make frequent inspections of the bedding to prevent hoarding. Any infractions are subject to the severest discipline and, so that this vice of private ownership may be cut away at the roots, the abbot is to furnish all necessities: cowl, tunic, shoes, stockings, belt, knife, pen, needle, towel, and writing tablet. With these, any excuse for need will be vanquished. (hmmm, I wonder how many motorcycles I really need?)

I was really starting to get into the whole thing and feeling the humility St. Benedict calls for until I got to the part about the harsh treatment of the youngest members of the monastery. That set me back a little bit but in the end, there is a lot to learn here about one's self, one's God, and the need to find a simpler life of faith and humility.

I knew next door to nothing about the monastic life before reading this book. It is a short read, but the philosophy related here is old and deep. I did learn some basics about monastacism while reading this book, but the language and some of the rules themselves seem arcahic and confusing. The book doesn't explain WHY these rules were adopted. Not that it should. The title clearly states the is The Rule, not The Rule for dummies. I happen to be a dummy in this area and will continue to search for a book that spells all of this stuff out. If you're a dummy like me, I don't recommend this as an introduction to monasticism. Unfortunately, being a neophyte as well as a dummy, I cannot recommend an alternative. But, for $8 there are some simple and beneficial tenets collected here.