During the early ages of the church and the beginnings of the hermetic lifestyle, there was very little in the way of structure that allowed people who chose to live a life dedicated to Christ in structure. While we know and have heard of the desert fathers and their contributions to the life of monasticism, it does not go unnoticed that St. Benedict also had a role to play in these aspects. In the Rule of St Benedict, he lays out a life rooted in Christ, based on stability, and allows a faithful and fruitful life with prayer. This is a timeless book that, while written and followed by Benedictines, is not without the graces it can provide for everyday lay people.
The Book begins with a discussion of the roles within different distinctions of monks. It allows us to understand the importance of an abbot within a monastery in representing Christ within the Abbey. While it is always known that the role of the Pope still holds great importance even within the Abbey, it’s understood that the part of the Abbot is to look and be aware of his flock, much as the role of a priest would have within his own congregation.[1] With the presence of the Abbot within the monastery, there can be a Shepard to guide those towards a prayerful life; it can be difficult when one is left to their own devices without any proper guidance in the stability of prayer. To have an Abbot allows those within his flock to flourish.
St. Benedict begins to lay out the structure of the monastic life within his rule to allow monks to open their hearts and minds to the Lord. The rule acts not only as a rule book in which monks are specified to follow specific rules to live a structured life; it also includes steps that allow one to know how to live a life dedicated to Christ. An essential aspect of the rule must be the dedication to silence outlined within. Every night after compline, Benedictines are to be silent until vigils the following day, this dedication to silence can be a setback for those who do not wish to live the monastic life, but this allows for the invitation of Christ within their lives. “The Lord will Fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Ex 14:14).[2] Regarding the significance of silence, we also find the structure in which good works are listed. These two sections lie within the beginning of the rule and can be seen as necessary since they allow monks to understand the basis of their life within the Abbey. Silence within their lives will enable them to understand that they must listen to the Lord through their prayer, which is a primary focus, and good works show them that while they live a life dedicated to Christ and that charity is a part of that dedication; they have a mission to serve the poor and help those in need as well.
The significance of the Rule of St. Benedict lies within the structured life that it provides. When the occult life started to become one that people were drawn to, there was little present in the structure within the hermetic life. Most of the rule lists certain aspects of the life of the Benedictines regarding sleep, eating, and prayer.[3] During the time of the desert fathers, there was little in the way of structured prayers for them to have a rigid schedule regarding worship. Most time was spent in meditation, but within the rule, we see an emphasis on the liturgy of the hours within five dedicated prayer times within an Abbey. Daily prayer and mass are what their lives are rooted in; they are meant to live a life in service of Christ; how can they know Christ if they are not maintaining a stable relationship with him?
It is essential to understand that while reading the Rule of St. Benedict, it is not simply understood as a rule book but as a lifestyle. All of what is written is not to be seen solely as a way to have monks fall in line and have a structured way of living; the purpose of the rule is for them to live a life that is in better service of Christ. All that is written is for the benefit of the monks residing within their Abbey, for them to live a life of prayer, poverty, and grace. The rule also shows us that each monk within the Abbey is not to live their journeys alone but to help one another to grow and live their lives better in dedication to Christ. The monastic lifestyle became appealing during the 2nd age of the church because of this disconnect from the world to live a healthy life for the soul. The Rule of St. Benedict provides us with a look at the lifestyle of the monastic life, which is rooted in prayer and obedience to build a life that is in service to Christ. The main focus may reside for Benedictines, but the book still provides many great teachings for people looking to join the monastic life or those simply curious.
No comments:
Post a Comment