rule of st benedict chapter 1

Jan. 8 - May 9 - Sept. 8 It is well known that there are four kinds … For in his teaching the Abbot should always observe that principle of the Apostle in which he saith: "Reprove, entreat, rebuke" (2 Tm 4:2), that is, mingling gentleness with severity, as the occasion may call for, let him show the severity of the master and the loving affection of a father. The first kind is that of Cenobites, that is, the monastic, who live under a rule and an Abbot. To love one's enemies (cf Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27). To dash at once against Christ the evil thoughts which rise in one's heart. %äüöß For if the disciple obeyeth with an ill will, and murmureth, not only with lips but also in his heart, even though he fulfil the command, yet it will not be acceptable to God, who regardeth the heart of the murmurer. For all the more reason, then, should evil speech be curbed so that punishment for sin may be avoided” (Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 6) As we’ve already mentioned, one important way that a family differs from a monastery is in the practice of silence. St. Benedict; Study the Holy Rule of St. Benedict. By Andrew McAlister After the words of the prologue, full of persuasion and invitation, we are presented with what could be seen as a sketch, or a summary, of commitment. And that he may not perhaps complain of the want of earthly means, let him remember what is written: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mt 6:33). 2—Dec. This obedience, however, will be acceptable to God and agreeable to men then only, if what is commanded is done without hesitation, delay, lukewarmness, grumbling or complaint, because the obedience which is rendered to Superiors is rendered to God. Chapter 37: The Elderly and the Young. Not to fulfil the desires of the flesh (cf Gal 5:16). Online Text of the Rule of St. Benedict Prologue Chapter 1 Of the Several Kinds of Monks Chapter 2 What Kind of Man the Abbot Ought to Be Chapter 3 Of Calling the Brethren to Council Chapter 4 What are the Instruments of Good Works Chapter 5 Of the Obedience of the Disciples To keep a constant watch over the actions of our life. He must sternly rebuke the undisciplined and restless; but he must exhort the obedient, meek, and patient to advance in virtue. St. Benedict's rules of obedience, humility, and contemplation are not only prerequisites for formal religious societies, they also provide an invaluable model for anyone desiring to live more simply. They, therefore, seize upon the narrow way whereof the Lord saith: "Narrow is the way which leadeth to life" (Mt 7:14), so that, not living according to their own desires and pleasures but walking according to the judgment and will of another, they live in monasteries, and desire an Abbot to be over them. Let him so adjust and adapt himself to everyone -- to one gentleness of speech, to another by reproofs, and to still another by entreaties, to each one according to his bent and understanding -- that he not only suffer no loss in his flock, but may rejoice in the increase of a worthy fold. Bad zeal may also be selfishness or indifference. Translated by Rev. This full commentary -- predominately literary and historical criticism -- is based on and includes a … Chapter 1: On the Kinds of Monks. We are distinguished with Him in this respect alone, if we are found to excel others in good works and in humility. Meditation three times a day balanced the spiritual dimension with the work of the community. And to disclose them to our spiritual father. They provide teaching about the basic monastic virtues of humility, silence, and obedience as well as directives for daily living. Chapter 36: The Sick. Let easy admission not be given to one who newly cometh to change his life; but, as the Apostle saith, "Try the spirits, whether they be of God" (1 Jn 4:1). 2—Aug. The Abbot ought always to remember what he is and what he is called, and to know that to whom much hath been entrusted, from him much will be required; and let him understand what a difficult and arduous task he assumeth in governing souls and accommodating himself to a variety of characters. It is better to pass all these over in silence than to speak of their most wretched life. May that Holy Spirit strengthen us in the path of a virtuous monastic life. ~ Monastic Rule ~ The Holy Rule of St. Benedict. Not to bear false witness (cf Mt 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20). is the first line-by-line exegesis of the entire Rule of Benedict written originally in English. To hold as certain that God sees us everywhere. Such as these truly live up to the maxim of the Lord in which He saith: "I came not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (Jn 6:38). But we charge him to rebuke and punish the negligent and haughty. If, however, matters of less importance, having to do with the welfare of the monastery, are to be treated of, let him use the counsel of the Seniors only, as it is written: "Do all things with counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done" (Sir 32:24). Boniface Verheyen, OSB of St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kansas . <> The well-disposed and those of good understanding, let him correct at the first and second admonition only with words; but let him chastise the wicked and the hard of heart, and the proud and disobedient at the very first offense with stripes and other bodily punishments, knowing that it is written: "The fool is not corrected with words" (Prov 29:19). And: "Thou who sawest the mote in thy brother's eye, hast not seen the beam in thine own" (Mt 7:3). This full commentary -- predominately literary and historical criticism -- is based on and includes a … To do no injury, yea, even patiently to bear the injury done us. The Rule of St Benedict consists of a Prologue and seventy-three chapters, ranging from a few lines to several pages. 1 Listen, my son, to your master’s precepts, and incline the ear of your heart. + chapter 1. the kinds of monks 1 There are clearly four kinds of monks. Prologue Verse 1-7; Prologue Verse 8-14; Prologue Verse 14-21; Prologue Verse 22-34; Prologue Verse 35-44; Prologue Verse 45-50; Chapter 1: The Kinds of Monks; Chapter 2: Qualities of the Abbot; Chapter 3: Summoning the Brothers for Counsel; Chapter 4: The Tools for Good Works; Chapter 5: Obedience Benedict's Rule: A Translation and Commentary by Terrence G. Kardong, O.S.B. Rule of Saint Benedict: | | ||| | St. Benedict writing the rules. Let not a free-born be preferred to a freedman, unless there be some other reasonable cause. is the first line-by-line exegesis of the entire Rule of Benedict written originally in English. The Rule of St. Benedict, Chapters 51–73 ... CHAPTER 51 On Brethren Who Go Not Very Far Away. The Rule of St. Benedict 1 The Rule of Saint Benedict (Translated into English. How foolish for monks not to live as monks or for Benedictines not to follow the wise spiritual direction of Saint Benedict! November 25, 2020 — 0 Comments. This full commentary -- predominately literary and historical criticism -- is based on and includes a … And for such an action he acquireth no reward; rather he incurreth the penalty of murmurers, unless he maketh satisfactory amendment. Not to be given to wine (cf Ti 1:7; 1 Tm 3:3). To bear persecution for justice sake (cf Mt 5:10). 2 0 obj Skipping a number of important saints and communities, probably the most influential to us in the West and in contemporary spiritual life is St. Benedict (c 480-543 CE). The final chapter provides a fitting, modest conclusion: "All perfection is not herein attained." Chapter 35.2: Kitchen Servers of the Week. There can be few more vivid illustrations of the moral power of humility than that afforded by The Rule of St Benedict. Basil, The Rule of St. Augustine, and the Regula Magistri (the Rule of the Master) in composing his own Rule. On the other hand he will be blameless, if he gave all a shepherd's care to his restless and unruly flock, and took all pains to correct their corrupt manners; so that their shepherd, acquitted at the Lord's judgment seat, may say to the Lord with the Prophet: "I have not hid Thy justice within my heart. Not to swear, lest perchance one swear falsely. And let him show by his actions, that whatever he teacheth his disciples as being contrary to the law of God must not be done, "lest perhaps when he hath preached to others, he himself should become a castaway" (1 Cor 9:27), and he himself committing sin, God one day say to him: "Why dost thou declare My justices, and take My covenant in thy mouth? Such as these, therefore, instantly quitting their own work and giving up their own will, with hands disengaged, and leaving unfinished what they were doing, follow up, with the ready step of obedience, the work of command with deeds; and thus, as if in the same moment, both matters -- the master's command and the disciple's finished work -- are, in the swiftness of the fear of God, speedily finished together, whereunto the desire of advancing to eternal life urgeth them. To confess one's past sins to God daily in prayer with sighs and tears, and to amend them for the future. CHAPTER I : Of the Kinds or the Life of Monks It is well known that there are four kinds of monks. The penultimate chapter of the Rule of St. Benedict speaks about the importance of having the right kind of zeal and being supportive of one's community. Chapter 35.1: Kitchen Servers of the Week To guard one's tongue against bad and wicked speech. Composed nearly fifteen hundred years ago by the father of Western monasticism, The Rule of St. Benedict has for centuries been the guide of religious communities. And let the Abbot know that whatever lack of profit the master of the house shall find in the sheep, will be laid to the blame of the shepherd. And it must be rendered by the disciples with a good will, "for the Lord loveth a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7). " 2 First, there are the cenobites, that is to say, those who belong to a monastery, where they serve under a rule and an abbot. This Benedictine hospitality is a feature which has in all ages been characteristic of the order. Therefore, passing these over, let us go on with the help of God to lay down a rule for that most valiant kind of monks, the Cenobites. To deny one's self in order to follow Christ (cf Mt 16:24; Lk 9:23). Let him not love one more than another, unless it be one whom he findeth more exemplary in good works and obedience. The 1949 Edition Translated by Rev. St. All rights reserved. To speak the truth with heart and tongue. Benedict made use of The Rule of St. November 13, 2020 — 2 Comments. But the fourth class of monks is that called Landlopers, who keep going their whole life long from one province to another, staying three or four days at a time in different cells as guests. Not to speak useless words and such as provoke laughter. of St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kansas. Not to be jealous; not to entertain envy. And again: "There is no want to them that fear Him" (Ps 33[34]:10). To obey the commands of the Abbot in all things, even though he himself (which Heaven forbid) act otherwise, mindful of that precept of the Lord: "What they say, do ye; what they do, do ye not" (Mt 23:3). fϫ�t��z]�\u`6�&�����ֽ!6�^��M��n�(�֥y����Ѥ�ٳ&q^ZB���6��uu�Ev$O'���r�)[��C�4���� K� �Hm,�����0x�X��=�z�d�F�*e|�Qa�. Boniface Verheyen, OSB of St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kansas . To hold one's self aloof from worldly ways. 2. of St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kansas CHAPTER XXVI : Of Those Who without the Command of the Abbot Associate with the Excommunicated If any brother presume to associate with an excommunicated brother in any way, or to speak with him, or to send him a message, without the command of the Abbot, let him incur the same penalty of excommunication. Not to curse them that curse us, but rather to bless them. [11] [12] [13] An early source for the quotation is the University of California, Berkeley faculty club, which has, for years, posted a version of … Apr. Its appeal is readily ascribed precisely to its winning lack of self-importance. May the Lord our God give us the wisdom of His Holy Spirit to guide us in our lives. Let him make no distinction of persons in the monastery. But as to any evil in himself, let him be convinced that it is his own and charge it to himself. Prologue Verse 1-7; Prologue Verse 8-14; Prologue Verse 14-21; Prologue Verse 22-34; Prologue Verse 35-44; Prologue Verse 45-50; Chapter 1: The Kinds of Monks; Chapter 2: Qualities of the Abbot; Chapter 3: Summoning the Brothers for Counsel; Chapter 4: The Tools for Good Works; Chapter 5: Obedience Above all things, that the Abbot may not neglect or undervalue the welfare of the souls entrusted to him, let him not have too great a concern about fleeting, earthly, perishable things; but let him always consider that he hath undertaken the government of souls, of which he must give an account. But a third and most vile class of monks is that of Sarabaites, who have been tried by no rule under the hand of a master, as gold is tried in the fire (cf Prov 27:21); but, soft as lead, and still keeping faith with the world by their works, they are known to belie God by their tonsure. The 1949 Edition Translated by Rev. But thou hast hated discipline, and hast cast My words behind thee" (Ps 49[50]:16-17). %PDF-1.4 Saint Benedict makes it clear to us here and in many places of the Rule that we must make knowing God the very center of our being, or our personalities. St. Benedict; Study the Holy Rule of St. Benedict. Then at length eternal death will be the crushing doom of the rebellious sheep under his charge. To fulfil daily the commandments of God by works. More generally the question could be: what kind of contemplative do you want x��\K�%������kCդ��Dž˅��L÷�/�w~�6/��-��qBRe5f��*R(�G�=������6ݦ��r_^�mO�u����o����^�﷿}{��-�1?�m�����Ϸ_�p���_������9?�4-ϗ��uڞ/�!��^�Nw���{����C���ο�a*���g��O?�����ۯ�P��!>�}�FkYFH�����2h���"e*�/����k剼�z�{��Ny:T�|��_:���s{��}��5oº��Y%�$aHYư?��k�9���JSn�H��e`R}�yN)�Ȃɟ/[�.lt-���������s΋�?����G�[���\����G�K��^�����p���G�����11VS�sƙd�U�$p�a��).���w�����f^�Y~Ƽ��������~���v�[Hj0y��;����R~����ٸ��7x����ls���l�u��%[�yֵ�9�E����F��.6R���/��kU���c~S�.�sw�o�ދ(=>P����6se�9�S,G~8�4z|�I���l��K��X �d��\��}5�W�� +{c�Xw��D4XX��ʾ���>��~�a�l�e�x)����g��k>8̜|W_�r�yIl�q��typw��0·��3��60���������X���Liڗ��Lc�!�z�/"��|׻N��Z�v/�6^��^S|:��E�a�;i�d��Du�|m�S��@(����_[�-d�>�^T�Y�"Ң~á��9�E^��7���T��l�kҋmKL]�����]r�eW����)�*�s��/�:�]�Q����.�ܿ�eP��Y��H����A��oZ���οhP�B���آ�!��'[+���wb+�l���ǵ�s�b��zĪ��"��E���f�����^�{��ˣm%�-�+5U� �do��1�ק��d;�P;M�r��-�4 When, therefore, anyone taketh the name of Abbot he should govern his disciples by a twofold teaching; namely, he should show them all that is good and holy by his deeds more than by his words; explain the commandments of God to intelligent disciples by words, but show the divine precepts to the dull and simple by his works. To pray for one's enemies in the love of Christ. I have declared Thy truth and Thy salvation" (Ps 39[40]:11). And thus, whilst he is in constant fear of the Shepherd's future examination about the sheep entrusted to him, and is watchful of his account for others, he is made solicitous also on his own account; and whilst by his admonitions he had administered correction to others, he is freed from his own failings. 1 There are clearly four kinds of monks. The Holy Rule of St. Benedict by Saint Benedict, Abbot of Monte Cassino. This document has been generated from XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) source … October 27, 2020 — 7 Comments. If any one dare to do so, let him be placed under the correction of the Rule. We are not just tepid Christians, we must be Christians who are putting all of our personal energies into this new life in Jesus Christ. Not to desire to be called holy before one is; but to be holy first, that one may be truly so called. The The Rule of Saint Benedict Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and … Good zeal is enthusiasm, goodwill and cooperation. Chapter 53 of the Rule is concerned with the treatment of guests, who are to be received “as Christ Himself”. Chapter 5.1: Obedience. Date: May 4, ... Meditatio House, in central London, was a home to a small resident community that lived in the spirit of the Rule of St Benedict. "But they contemning have despised me" (Is 1:2; Ezek 20:27). Let the Abbot himself, however, do everything in the fear of the Lord and out of reverence for the Rule, knowing that, beyond a doubt, he will have to give an account to God, the most just Judge, for all his rulings. ~ Monastic Rule ~ The Holy Rule of St. Benedict. The 1949 Edition To refer what good one sees in himself, not to self, but to God. 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