Samantha Green
St. Benedict was known for founding several monasteries in Rome, and also for writing a handbook, or ‘Rule’ book, for monks in the 6th century and beyond. The book is organized into a multitude of Chapters. Each titled plainly for an easy to navigate book. St. Benedict gave this handbook as a tool for other monks to use as guidance. The book helped them to navigate through scripture, and to have answers to many questions that they may possess. The main point that the ‘Rule’ emphasizes is obedience. Creating a guideline for how to be obedient to God’s Word and to give him sacraments.
The beginning chapters speak on different kinds of Monks; cenobites, anchorites (hermits), sarabaites, and the gyrovagues. The chapters then continue to speak on how to live basically. Starting with behavior, for example humility, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (31)” The ‘Rule’ also explains how to conduct ceremonies and why they are important. St. Benedict advises on The Celebration of the Divine Office, day and night, also Council meetings, and Manual Labor. All of these were to be used to glorify God and to mend their souls. In chapter 48, Benedict states, “Idleness is the enemy of the soul,” he identifies a problem for the monks and then continues to show them how to fix it. St. Benedict gives this guide in a way so that he can convince monks of their brokenness and then give them a solution to their problem. Making him become someone to look up to because he seems to possess all the answers to such problems.
St. Benedict also leaves the monks with a guide to living, not only for their immortal lives, but also for their mortal bodies. Chapters 39, 40, 48, and 55 all touch on taking care of the body how to do it properly to serve God. In Chapter 55, Benedict describes how each monk must still remain covered from neck to toe, no matter the temperature. The ‘Rule’ gives a guide to how meals will be served and what food will be eaten. St. Benedict follows strict rules of portioning and specifics on meals, like bread and possible fruit and vegetable. Only the sick are aloud to eat meat from four-legged animals, and young boys receive less food than the elders in order to teach them the virtue of frugality. With each rule and stipulation come reasoning and a lesson involved. St. Benedict consistently reiterates his desire for training and learning. Through every aspect of living there is something to be learned by the monks and something to be taught by God.
St. Benedict was known for founding several monasteries in Rome, and also for writing a handbook, or ‘Rule’ book, for monks in the 6th century and beyond. The book is organized into a multitude of Chapters. Each titled plainly for an easy to navigate book. St. Benedict gave this handbook as a tool for other monks to use as guidance. The book helped them to navigate through scripture, and to have answers to many questions that they may possess. The main point that the ‘Rule’ emphasizes is obedience. Creating a guideline for how to be obedient to God’s Word and to give him sacraments.
The beginning chapters speak on different kinds of Monks; cenobites, anchorites (hermits), sarabaites, and the gyrovagues. The chapters then continue to speak on how to live basically. Starting with behavior, for example humility, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (31)” The ‘Rule’ also explains how to conduct ceremonies and why they are important. St. Benedict advises on The Celebration of the Divine Office, day and night, also Council meetings, and Manual Labor. All of these were to be used to glorify God and to mend their souls. In chapter 48, Benedict states, “Idleness is the enemy of the soul,” he identifies a problem for the monks and then continues to show them how to fix it. St. Benedict gives this guide in a way so that he can convince monks of their brokenness and then give them a solution to their problem. Making him become someone to look up to because he seems to possess all the answers to such problems.
St. Benedict also leaves the monks with a guide to living, not only for their immortal lives, but also for their mortal bodies. Chapters 39, 40, 48, and 55 all touch on taking care of the body how to do it properly to serve God. In Chapter 55, Benedict describes how each monk must still remain covered from neck to toe, no matter the temperature. The ‘Rule’ gives a guide to how meals will be served and what food will be eaten. St. Benedict follows strict rules of portioning and specifics on meals, like bread and possible fruit and vegetable. Only the sick are aloud to eat meat from four-legged animals, and young boys receive less food than the elders in order to teach them the virtue of frugality. With each rule and stipulation come reasoning and a lesson involved. St. Benedict consistently reiterates his desire for training and learning. Through every aspect of living there is something to be learned by the monks and something to be taught by God.