The Rules of Benedict

The rules, regulae, of St. Benedict, are worthy of special consideration, since they constitute the real foundation of his success and of his fame.  His order was by far the most important monastic brotherhood until the thirteenth century.  Nearly all the other orders which sprang up during this interval were based upon Benedictine rules, and were really attempts to reform the monastic system on the basis of Benedict’s original practice.  Other monks lived austere lives and worked miracles, and some of them formulated rules, but it is to Benedict and his rules that we must look for the code of Western monachism.  “By a strange parallelism,” says Putnam, “almost in the very year in which the great Emperor Justinian was codifying the results of seven centuries of Roman secular legislation for the benefit of the judges and the statesmen of the new Europe, Benedict, on his lonely mountain-top, was composing his code for the regulation of the daily life of the great civilizers of Europe for seven centuries to come.”

The rules consist of a preface and seventy-three chapters.  The prologue defines the classes of monks, and explains the aim of the “school of divine servitude,” as Benedict described his monastery.  The following is a partial list of the subjects considered:  The character of an abbot, silence, maxims for good works, humility, directions as to divine service, rules for dormitories, penalties, duties of various monastic officers, poverty, care of the sick daily rations of food and drink, hours for meals, fasting, entertainment of guests, and dress.  They close with the statement that the Benedictine rule is not offered as an ideal of perfection, or even as equal to the teaching of Cassian or Basil, but for mere beginners in the spiritual life, who may thence proceed further.

The Benedictine novitiate extended over one year, but was subsequently increased to three.  At the close of this period the novice was given the opportunity to go back into the world.  If he still persisted in his choice, he swore before the bones of the saints to remain forever cut off from the rest of his fellow beings.  If a monk left the monastery, or was expelled, he could return twice, but if, after the third admission, he severed his connection, the door was shut forever.

The monk passed his time in manual labor, copying manuscripts, reading, fasting and prayer.  He was forbidden to receive letters, tokens or gifts, even from his nearest-relatives, without permission from the abbot.  His daily food allowance was usually a pound of bread, a pint of wine, cider or ale, and sometimes fish, eggs, fruit or cheese.  He was dressed in a black cowl.  His clothing was to be suitable to the climate and to consist of two sets.  He was also furnished with a straw mattress, blanket, quilt, pillow, knife, pen, needle, handkerchief and tablets.  He was, in all things, to submit patiently to his superior, to keep silence, and to serve his turn in the kitchen.  In the older days the monks changed their clothes on the occasion of a bath, which used to be taken four times a year.  Later, bathing was allowed only twice a year, and the monks changed their clothes when they wished.