What is Benedictine Spirituality?

"Listen, O my son, to the precepts of thy master, and incline the ear of thy heart, and cheerfully receive and faithfully execute the admonitions of thy loving Father, that by the toil of obedience thou mayest return to Him from whom by the sloth of disobedience thou hast gone away.”

Thus begins the prologue of The Rule of Saint Benedict, an ancient writing instructing Benedictine monks in the ways in which they should govern their bodies and minds while performing the Will of the Lord. Also called St. Benedict of Nursia, the Italian monk founded a community of monks in the sixth century after living three years outside of Rome as a hermit. Made up of cells of 13 monks each, the Benedictine community attracted many followers. Benedict eventually left his community, and at Montecassino, between Rome and Naples, in an old pagan holy place, he started the first truly Benedictine monastery--although the Benedictine order did not come into being until Carolingian times (Seventh Century a.d.).

The fruits of Benedict's experience appear in the Rule of St. Benedict (in Latin), which became the chief rule in Western monasticism under the Carolingians. The Rule's 73 chapters are full of a spirit of moderation and common sense. They set forth the central ideas of Benedictine monasticism; ideas ranging from the ideal characteristics of a monastery’s Abbot, to the manner in which the monks should sleep. Benedict’s rules speak of common cause, yet also allow for the distinctiveness of the individual and each individual’s unique path to God; a singular approach to innovation and laboring to achieve fulfillment.

Benedictine Catholicism is still alive and well today with monasteries all over the world carrying out the Will of God in the manner set forth by St. Benedict. For more information regarding Benedictine monastic life, visit Andechs Monastery in Upper Bavaria’s Five-Lakes Region. Or visit St. Benedict’s Abbey in Kansas to read a recent translation of The Holy Rule of Saint Benedict.

Bibliography

“ Benedict, Saint,” Columbia Encyclopedia, 2003 ed., Oct. 20, 2003 <http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/B/BenedctS1t.asp>.

"Benedict, St. of Nursia," The Holy Rule of St. Benedict. 1949 ed. Trans. Rev. Verheyen, Boniface. St. Benedict’s Abbey. May 25, 2003. Oct. 20, 2003 <http://www.kansasmonks.org/RuleOfStBenedict.html>.

Andechs Monastery, 2003. Munich, Germany. Oct. 20, 2003 <http://www.andechs.de/englisch/index_main.asp>.

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