The Holy Rule of St. Benedict

Translated by Abbot Justin McCann, O.S.B.

Published by Roman Catholic Books, P.O. Box 2286 Fort Collins, CO. 80522

213 pages with end notes and Index, ISBN 1-929291-08-6.

 $ 18

St. Benedict writing The Rules

Abbott McCann presents in this book an edition of the Latin text which he intends should be of service to the monk in choir and to the general reader. The Holy Rule of St. Benedict answers the question of what it is the life of a monk inside the monastery. God providentially called St. Benedict (c. 480-560) amid the chaos and confusion of the Third Age.

St. Benedict established twelve small communities of monks at Subiaco, before heading fifty miles south to found Monte Cassino, the great monastery for which he is remembered. It was here, around 529, that he composed the famous Rule of St. Benedict, the excellence of which was reflected in its all but universal adoption throughout Western Europe in the centuries that followed. The moderation of St. Benedict’s Rule, as well as the structure and order it provided, facilitated its spread throughout Europe. (1) Presently, Ora et Labora of St. Benedict’s Rule have repeatedly demonstrated its influence in almost all religious communities in the world.

The book is an excellent instructional manual not only for monks but also to people who are contemplating to follow God’s call to religious life. In recent years more and more lay people and Benedictine Third Orders, who have turn to the Rule, and have found within its pages a deep and practical spirituality which is helpful to them in coping with the problems and challenges they meet in their everyday lives. 

Benedictine monks singing the Vespers

St. Benedict begins his Rule with a prologue, and chapters identifying the different kinds of monks and their customs. It is very evident that the saint’s Constitution and By-Laws gives primacy to prayer. More than ten chapters devoted explaining the importance Prayers, the rituals and the different hours, popularly known as the Divine Office. (2). Reading the Chapters on Virtues, you will find how St. Benedict amazingly explained the twelve stages of humility, and enumerated more than seventy tools of good works. Readers should know these different tools which the saint called the tools of our spiritual craft. Over-all, it is a synthesis of values that are found in the Scriptures, putting them into practical means of living out the Gospel life. (3)

Truly, it’s a manual for spiritual life, however there are some noticeable "misplaced articles" of the rule. Perhaps the saint doesn’t want to forget those inspired rules in his mind, while dealing with some other important themes of a particular rule. For example, there was one chapter on work, on page 61, while he was explaining in details regarding prayers. He could have put this chapter right after chapter 3 (Tools of Good Works), to make a continuity on the Rule of Works. Also, in Chapter 66, the Holy Rule seems to have a terminal tone when St Benedict said, “We desire that this Rule be read aloud often in the community, so that no brother may excuse himself on the ground of ignorance”, (4) but then there are seven more additional chapters. Nevertheless, the Holy Rule of St. Benedict is a precious document, that brought about changes, not only in one’s spiritual life but also in the life of the Church especially during the later part of  Second Age of the Church (330-650 AD).

References:

1      Thomas E. Woods, How The Catholic Church Built Western Civilization, page 26-27

2     Abbott Justin McCann, The Rule of St. Benedict, pages 49-67. St. Benedict established different    hours of prayer: Matins or The Vigils, Laud (Dawn Prayer), Prime (The Early Morning), Tierce (Mid- morning), Sext (Mid-day), Vespers (Evening) and the Compline (Night Prayers). These are also known as the Liturgy of the Hours. 

3    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3C39BqPJGU

4     Abbott Justin McCann, The Rule of St. Benedict, page 153.