Rule Of St Benedict A Commentary

This classic commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict is organized as follows: Introduction Prologue I. Of the Various Kinds of Monks II. What Kind of Man the Abbot Ought to Be III. Of Calling the Brethren to Council IV. What Are the Instruments of Good Works V. Of Obedience VI. The Spirit of Silence VII. Of Humility VIII. Of the Divine Office at Night IX. How Many Psalms Are to Be Said at the Night Hours X. How the Night Office Is to Be Said in Summer XI. How the Night Office Is to Be Said on Sundays XII. How the Office of Lauds Is to Be Said XIII. How Lauds Are to Be Said on Weekdays. XIV. How the Night Office Is to Be Said on Saints’-Days XV. At What Times of the Year “Alleluia” Is to Be Said XVI. How the Work of God Is to Be Done in the Day-Time XVII. How Many Psalms Are to Be Said at These Hours (Of the Day) XVIII. In What Order the Psalms Are to Be Said. XIX. How to Say the Divine Office XX. Of Reverence at Prater XXI. Of the Deans of the Monastery XXII. How the Monks Are to Sleep XXIII. Of Excommunication for Faults XXIV. What the Measure of Excommunication Should Be XXV. Of Graver Faults XXVI. Of Those Who, Without Leave of the Abbot, Consort With the Excommunicate XXVII. How Careful the Abbot Should Be of the Excommunicate XXVIII. Of Those Who, Being Often Corrected, Do Not Amend XXIX. Whether the Brethren Who Leave the Monastery Are to Be Received Again XXX. How Young Boys Are to Be Corrected XXXI. Of the Cellarer of the Monastery XXXII. Of the Tools and Property of the Monastery XXXIII. Whether Monks Ought to Have Antthing of Their Own XXXIV. Whether All Ought to Receive Necessary Things Alike XXXV. Of the Weekly Servers in the Kitchen XXXVI. Of the Sick Brethren XXXVII. Of Old Men and Children XXXVIII. The Weekly Reader XXXIX. Of the Measure of Food XL. Of the Measure of Drink XLI. At What Hours the Brethren Are to Take Their Meals XLII. That No One May Speak After Compline XLIII. Of Those Who Come Late to the Work of God, or to Table XLIV. Of Those Who Are Excommunicated, How They Are to Make Satisfaction XLV. Of Those Who Make Mistakes in the Oratory XLVI. Of Those Who Offend in Any Other Matters XLVII. Of Signifying the Hour for the Work of God XLVIII. Of the Daily Manual Labour XLIX. Of the Observance of Lent L. Of Brethren Who Are Working at a Distance From the Oratory or Are on a Journey LI. Of Brethren Who Do Not Go Far Away LII. Of the Oratort of the Monastery LIII. Of the Reception of Guests LIV. Whether a Monk Ought to Receive Letters or Tokens LV. Of the Clothes and Shoes of the Brethren LVI. Of the Abbots Table LVII. Of the Artificers of the Monastery LVIII. Of the Discipline of Receiving Brethren Into Religion LIX. Of the Sons of Nobles or the Poor That Are Offered LX. Of Priests Who May Wish to Dwell in the Monastery LXI. Of Pilgrim Monks, How They Are to Be Received LXII. Of the Priests of the Monastery LXIII. Of the Order of the Community LXIV. Of the Appointment of the Abbot LXV. Of the Prior of the Monastery LXVI. Of the Porter of the Monastery LXVII. Of Brethren Who Are Sent on a Journey LXVIII. If a Brother Be Commanded to Do Impossibilities LXIX. That Monks Presume Not to Defend One Another LXX. That No One Presume Rashly to Strike or Excommunicate Another LXXI. That the Brethren Be Obedient One to the Other LXXII. Of the Good Zeal Which Monks Ought to Have LXXIII. That the Whole Observance of Justice Is Not Set Down in This Rule

The Rule of St. Benedict forms the foundation for one of the oldest ongoing institutions in all of Western civilization. The Rule not only defines life for men and women in monasteries but has also become central to the spirituality of lay Christians across the globe. This gender-neutral translation is true to the original text but provides an alternative for individuals and groups who prefer such a version over the masculine language of the original as it was written for St. Benedict’s monks. See also version with daily commentary by Judith Sutera, OSB

A ninth-century monk of Saint Mihiel near Verdun, Smaragdus composed his Commentary after the 816 Council of Aachen imposed the Rule of Saint Benedict on all monasteries in the vast Carolingian Empire. His deep devotion to Christ and great reverence for Saint Benedict led him to encourage monastics to update the observance of the Rule to meet the needs of a society, period of history, and monks very different from those Benedict had known. He reminds readers today as well as then that monastic life is organized for the goal of attaining union with God by following Christ.

Fifteen centuries after it was written, the Rule of St. Benedict still provides a deep and practical spirituality that helps lay people cope with everyday problems and challenges.

A modern approach to spiritual deepening using the ancient, but wise Rule of St. Benedict. The Rule of St. Benedict continues to attract those who seek to live a deeper life, connected to Christ. But with such an ancient text, how can we authentically engage St. Benedict’s Rule in a manner that is true to its profound insights—and to our own spiritual journey? Norvene Vest suggests that the answer lies in the way we read the Rule. “It shouldn’t be studied like a book of regulations, or a school textbook. It should be read as lectio divina.” This profound yet very practical volume speaks to our urgent spiritual need. People yearn for an interior life deeply rooted in God, humanly balanced, and substantially founded in the Christian heritage. Vest offers a valuable resource by rendering much more accessible the spiritual wealth of the key text of the ancient Benedictine charism. Here is the solid, balanced wisdom that has nourished and guided innumerable Christians for nearly fifteen centuries.

This reflective commentary explores the Rule of St Benedict from the perspective of someone whose life and faith has been shaped by its gentle wisdom and realism. Its approach is personal and contemplative; it is written for all who seek to deepen their Christian understanding and discipleship.

Benedict's Rule: A Translation and Commentary is the first line-by-line exegesis of the entire Rule of Benedict written originally in English. This full commentary - predominately a literary and historical criticism - is based on and includes a new translation and is accompanied by essays on Benedict's spiritual doctrine. A monk who has striven to live according to the Rule of Benedict for thirty-five years, Father Kardong relates it to modern monastic life while examining the sources (Cassian, Augustine, and Basil) Benedict used to establish his Rule. Overviews - summaries of notes, source criticism, or structural criticism - follow some chapters, and a large bibliography of the current scholarship and source references are also included. Benedict's Rule: A Translation and Commentary also includes the Latin text of the Regula Benedicti. This reference work is invaluable to libraries and to those who are called to interpret the Rule. It will be opened again and again. Indexed.