The Rule of Saint Benedict: A Review

The Rule of Saint Benedict is comprised of 73 chapters, or rules, written by St. Benedict for monastic life. St. Benedict lived from approximately 480-540 in his native country of Italy. He attended school in Rome, and meanwhile became disgusted with the level of paganism in the culture. St. Benedict decided to live in solitude in a cave outside of Subiaco, thirty miles east of Rome. People began to take notice of Benedict’s lifestyle, leading other monks to join him in his seclusion. St. Benedict established twelve monasteries with twelve monks in each, all living by the “Rule.” ¹

The Rule itself is one of the only things that can tell us more about who Saint Benedict really was. Above all, Benedict wanted to lead people to salvation and he considered his rule to be “a little rule for beginners.” ­² St. Benedict believed firmly that if one should hear the voice of the Lord, he should not harden his heart, and the rule is a concrete way to actively listen to the voice of God.

The Rule of Saint Benedict begins with an explanation of the four kinds of monks that will be found in a monetary. The first are the cenobites, which are those who belong to the monastery under the rule of the abbot. Secondly, are the anchorites, which are those monks who have proved themselves beyond “first fervor” and have become suited to monastic life. Thirdly, are those called sarabites, which are “the most detestable kind of monks.” ³ These monks often keep to themselves and while living in the monastery, have a heart that is still oriented toward worldly things. Fourthly, are the gyrovagues, who are monks that spend their lives drifting from one monastery to the next, without giving up their own wills and appetites.⁴ The abbot is believed to be standing in the person of Christ in the monastery, and thus his attitude should reflect this fact. According to St. Benedict, the abbot has been entrusted with much from God, and therefore, more will be required. ⁵

            The Rule of Saint Benedict covers all kinds of topics from humility, to prayer, the psalms, and punishments for those who break rules in the monastery. Saint Benedict stresses that the first stage in humility is obedience. Obedience should be free from “sluggish or halfhearted” attempts. ⁶ Humility is given twelve steps in the rule of St. Benedict:

            1. Man should always keep the fear of God before his eyes,

            2. Man should love not his own will, but imitate the actions of Christ,

            3. Man should submit to his superior in full obedience,

            4. When the obedience is difficult, there should not be grumbling or weakening,

            5. Man should not conceal any sinful thoughts or actions from the abbot,

            6. Monks should be content with the lowest sort of treatment,

            7. Man should admit with his heart, as well as his tongue, that he is inferior,

            8. Monks should do only what is expressed in common rule,

            9. Monks should control their tongues and remain silent,

            10. Monks should not be given to ready laughter,

            11. Monks should speak gently and without laughter,

            12. Monks should manifest humility in their outward appearances as well as in the heart.

St. Benedict argues that if monks follow these twelve steps of humility, they will quickly attain perfection in love for God and neighbor. ⁷

            It is in the rule that monks are required to pray during the night, after about the middle of night, when the food is fully digested. The duration of night prayer varies between winter months and summer months, because the summer nights are shorter. ⁸ Monks are to meet for prayer during the day seven times. These are commonly referred to as Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. ⁹

            There are more practical rules included such as that the monks should sleep in separate beds, and that they are to sleep clothed in order to be ready for the next day. ¹⁰ Monks are to take turns serving in the kitchen during the week. ¹¹ Two kinds of cooked food are to be served, so that whoever does not care for one, should like the other. Wine should be restricted to half a bottle per monk per day. There is also to be no talking while the reading is read during meal. If anything is needed, it should be communicated by an inaudible gesture. ¹²

            There are times when a monk must be excommunicated. For certain faults, a monk should be reprimanded in private twice, if he does not listen, he should be reproved a third time in front of everyone. If after this, he does not take heed, he should be excommunicated. Excommunication in this sense does not mean from the monastery, rather that he should be avoided by all the brothers, and under strict provisions by the abbot. If after all of this is done, and the monk does not amend his ways, he should be removed from the monastery. ¹³

            As one can see, the Rule of Saint Benedict is not for the faint of heart. St. Benedict is known for his spiritual mastery and his rule makes it known. St. Benedict was well versed in human nature which can be observed in the way he makes his rule for monks to follow.

Footnotes:

¹ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, ed. Timothy Fry, O.S.B., (New York: Vintage Spiritual Classics, 1998), xxvii-xxviii.

² Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, xxiv.

³ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 7.

⁴ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 8.

⁵ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 8-9.

⁶ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 15.

⁷ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 17-20.

⁸ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 22.

⁹ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 26.

¹⁰ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 30.

¹¹ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 37.

¹² Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 40-41.

¹³ Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict, 31-33.