
 THE RULE OF ST BENEDICT
-------------------------

Benedict was born at Rome at the end of the 5th century.

At the age of 14 he 'renounced the world', when he settled
at Monte Cassino and eventually set up a monastery there.

He died in 543.

By the 9th century his RULE for running a monastery was
more popular than any other and it became the basis for
new orders, such as the Cluniacs and the Cistercians.

THE RULE (extracts and 'modernised')

1) On the kinf od monks.
 
2) On the character of the Abbot.

3) On calling the monks together to take advice.

Whenever matters of importance have to be dealt with in the
monastery, the abbot should call all the other monks together
and let them know the problem that has arisen.

After hearing their advice he should do what he thinks is
best.

All of the other monks should submit to the Abbot - his
decision is final.

No monk should follow his own inclinations and none should
argue with the Abbot.

If unimportant decisions need to be taken, the Abbot only
needs to take the advice of the senior monks.

8) On the Divine Office at Night.

In the Winter time the monks must rise at the eighth hour of the
night. After vigils they should spend the time in study
those brothers who still need to learn any part of the
psalter or lessons.

From Easter, the hour of keeping vigils should be
arranged so that, after a short interval, in which the
brothers may go out for the necessities of nature,
lauds should follow immediately.

16) How Divine office shall be said in the Daytime.

The prophet says 'Seven time in a day do I praise Thee'.

This sacred number 7 will be fulfilled by us, if we pray at
lauds, at the first, third, sixth and ninth hours,
at vespers time and at 'completorium'.

As far as the night is concerned, the same prophet says,
'At midnight I arose to confess unto Thee'.

20) ON PRAYER.

    Our prayer must be brief and pure.

21) The Deans of the Monastery.

    If the congregation is a larger one, brothers of good reputation
    should be chosen fro it to act as Deans.

    The Abbot should be able to share his burdens with the
    Deans.

22) How the Monks are to sleep.

    They should sleep in separate beds.

    If possible, they should all sleep in the one room.

    If there are too many for this, they should take their
    rest in groups of 10 or 20.

    They should sleep clothed, so that they are always
    ready for God's service.

    Let a candle be kept burning in the cell until
    morning.

    Let not the younger brothers have beds by themselves,
    but space them amongst the seniors. And when they rise
    for the service of God let them gently encourage one
    another, because the sleepy ones are apt to make
    excuses.

23) On Excommunication for Faults.

    If a Brother breaks the holy Rule or does wrong, he should
    be privately told of once and then twice by his
    seniors.

    If he still carries on, let him be publicly told of
    by the whole community.

    If he still continues, he should be excommunicated.

    If, however, he is incorrigible, let him undergo
    corporal chastisement.

24) On the extent of the Excommunication.

    A brother should be punished according to how
    extreme his crime is.

    Lenient punishments might include eating his meals
    alone or eating them after the others have finished.

25) On grave faults.

    If a brother commits a serious crime, he shall eat his
    meals alone and be ignored totally by the whole
    community.

26) If a brother speaks or associates with those who have been
    excommunicated from the community, he shall suffer the
    same punishment as the wrong doer.

27) How should the Abbot act towards the Excommunicated.

    The abbot shall show the utmost solicitude and care
    towards brothers that offend.

28) What happens to those who continue to offend.

    Those brothers who continue to offend after being
    warned or excommunicated or flogged should be removed
    from the community.

29) Should brothers who are removed from the monastery be
    allowed to return to it.

    Yes - they will re-enter at the lowest level.

    This they will be allowed to do up to a third time if
    they re-offend. After this they will be
    excluded forever.

30) What to do with boys under a certain age who offend.

    They should be made to fast or coerced with severe
    blows.

33) Should the Monks own anything.

    Monks should not have individual property.

    What they own belongs to the community - they have
    no possessions.

35) On the weekly officers of the kitchen.

    Brothers shall wait on each other in turn and no one
    shall be excused from kitchen work.

    An hour before each meal the weekly servers are to receive a cup
    of drink and a piece of bread over and above their
    ration.

36) On the care of sick brothers.

    Before all things, and above all things, care must be
    taken of the sick.

    Sick brothers will have a cell apart with a servitor
    to look after them.

    Baths shall be offered to the sick as often as is
    necessary; to the healthy, and especially to
    youths, more rarely.

    The eating of meat shall also be allowed to the
    sick and delicate, in order to help in their
    recovery. When they have grown better, they will,
    as is the usual manner, abstain from flesh.

38) On the Weekly Reader.

    At the mealtimes of the brothers there should always
    be a reading.

39) On the amount of food.

    There should be two cooked dishes for the daily meal -
    or a third one, if fresh vegetables and fruit are
    obtainable.

    If heavy work is to be undertaken, the abbot may allow
    more.

    All should abstain from the flesh of four-footed
    beasts.

40) On the Amount of Drink.

    The ill may be allowed a pint of wine a day.

    Drinking is bad for monks - it leads to all kinds of
    sins - although the monks do not agree with this - it
    is up to the abbot to decide a policy on drink - we
    would warn that brethren do not drink to excess.

42) On Silence after Compline.

    Monks should practice silence at all times, but especially
    in the hours of the night.

48) On the Daily Manual Labour.

    Idleness is enemy of the soul.

    At fixed times, brothers ought to be engaged in manual
    labour. At other fixed times, they should be
    engaged in sacred reading.

    Between Easter and October 1st, monks should :
             
- after prime, they should labour until the 4th hour.

- from the 4th until the 6th hour they should read.

- after the meal of the 6th hour, they shall rest in their
  beds in total silence or read in a way not to disturb
  others.

     On Sunday, all shall be occupied in reading.

50) Those who work away from the Monastery or are on a journey should
    observe the Hours.

51) Those on short journeys should not eat outside the
    monastery, except with the permission of the
    abbot.

53) On the Reception of Guests.

    Guests are to be received as Christ himself.

    When a guest is announced :

- the prior or brothers will go to meet them.

- and first they shall pray together.

- the kiss of peace will be given.

- the Abbot and brothers will wash the hands and feet of the guest.

- when a guest arrives, a fast may be broken.

- care will be shown in the reception of the poor and of
  pilgrims.

- the kitchen of the Abbot and the guests will be a
  separate one, so that guests do not disturb the routine of
  the brothers.

54) A brother may not receive gifts or letters, except
    with the permission of the Abbot.

55) On clothing.

    Clothing will be given to brothers according to the
    work they are involved in and the climate.

    In warm climates a cowl and tunic will suffice - the
    cowl in winter hairy and in summer fine or worn - and a
    scapular for work.

    And for the feet, shoes and stockings.

    The clothes should be the cheapest possible.

    A brother needs only 2 cowls and 2 tunics.

    Old worn clothes will be returned and not kept, for
    distribution to the poor.

    A monk on a journey will be provided with slightly
    better clothing.

    The abbot will distribute to the monks :

- a cowl.

- a tunic.

- shoes.

- stockings.

- girdle.

- a knife.

- a pen.

- a needle.

- a handkerchief.

- tablets.

Nothing else.

58) On the way that new monks should be welcomed :

    When any newcomer applies for admission, an easy
    entrance should not be granted to him.

    If, after the difficulties that have been put in his way, he still
    wants to join the community, he will be accepted.

    He shall be in the cell of the novices, where he shall
    meditate and eat and sleep.

    An elder brother shall be appointed to look after him.
  
    After 2 months, the Rule will be repeated to him and he will be
    asked if he wishes to stay.

    After 6 months, the Rule shall be read to him again.

    If he joins us, he will promise in the oratory in front
    of the whole community, that he will keep the Rule.

             
64) The Abbot should be appointed by agreement with the whole community.

66) On the Doorkeepers of the Monastery.

    A wise old man shall be placed at the door of the
    monastery, who shall know how to receive a reply
    and how to make one.

    The doorkeeper ought to have a cell next to the door.

    A monastery should, if possible, be so arranged that
    everything necessary - that is, water, a mill, a garden,
    a bakery - may be available, and different trades be carried on within
    the monastery; so that there shall be no need for
    monks to wander outside. For this is not at all good
    for their souls.

    The Rule should be read very often in the
    congregation, so that no brothers can say that
    they are ignorant of it.

70) No one shall take it upon himself to strike another
    without orders.

71) Monks shall obey each other.

73) This Rule does not contain everything that you need to know
    about living a righteous life in the monastery.
    Look to the Old and New Testaments, to the works of the
    Church fathers, for more guidance.

