The Rule of St. Benedict
by Saint Benedict
For fifteen centuries Benedictine monasticism has been governed by a Rule that is at once strong enough to instill order and yet flexible enough to have relevance fifteen hundred years later.
1998
Recommendations
Everybody has a rule of life, but it's a rare person who takes the time to spell her ethos out. St. Benedict's Rule, formulated in the sixth century, is among the most comprehensive and vital rules of life in the history of monasticism. Benedict was a tough guy--his standards of obedience, humility, and contemplation can sound awfully rigid to contemporary ears. But his rule has nurtured millions of lives not only in the cloisters, but in every city, suburb, and countryside where people strive to lead simpler lives
Michael Joseph Gross
About the Author
Benedict of Nursia (2 March 480 – 543 or 547 AD) is a patron saint of Europe. He founded communities for monks southern Italy. Benedict’s main achievement is his “Rule of Saint Benedict”, containing precepts for his monks. His Rule became one of the most influential religious rules in Western Christendom. For this reason, Benedict is often called the founder of western monasticism.