The Rule of St Benedict
A Set of Rules Which Governed Medieval Monastic Life
The Rule of St Benedict was followed by thousands of religious houses across Europe during the Middle Ages. It was a strict set of rules which aimed to show religious communities how to live pure and holy lives.
St Benedict of Nursia, Author of the Rule of St Benedict
St Benedict lived in Italy around the years 480 – 547. He was the founder of more than ten religious communities, including the famous Monte Cassino in Italy. Benedict was born into a noble Roman family and he and his sister Scholastica, showed a great aptitude for reading and writing.
Benedict left his life in the city to seek life in a religious community and lived for a few years as a hermit. However, his fame spread, due to his strict way of living and the miracles he performed and he was eventually persuaded to act as abbot of a monastery, from which he founded other houses, creating his Rule as a guidance for the men who lived in these communities.
What is Contained in the Rule of St Benedict?
The rules are a comprehensive and realistic set of guidelines for how monastic life should be conducted. What is written is practical and had obviously been tried and tested in a monastery, as there are plenty of examples of how monks should act when something goes wrong.
The rules cover every aspect of life, from waking to sleeping and cover eating, drinking, how to treat rich and poor visitors to the monastery and how to deal with those who arrive late to services or who make mistakes.
The Rule of St Benedict and the Selection of Monastic Officials
One of the most interesting and enlightening aspects of the Rule is its stipulations as to how monastic officials should be selected. These sections of the Rule show the ideals to which monasteries aspired. The abbot, said St Benedict, should be prepared to lead by example, to treat all monks equally and to both rebuke and encourage his flock.
The cellarer, said St Benedict, should be mature, sober and not someone who liked to eat a lot, as well as someone who was capable of turning away requests without causing offence. Since the cellarer was in charge of the monastery’s food and drink, these stipulations seem logical and wise.
The Contents of the Rule of St Benedict
The Rule is made up of 73 separate chapters, which deal with running a monastery, the duties of the abbot, how to deal with problems, the day to day administration of a religious house, what punishments are appropriate and how and when to perform various religious services.
Two of the rules specify what food and drink is allowed and state that two meals a day can be served, with a pound of bread and a measure of wine for each monk. Meat is forbidden except for those who are ill.
Guests are to be met by the abbot or his deputy and as far as possible, are to be kept away from the rest of the community; only the abbot is permitted to eat with guests. Any man who is interested in entering the monastery as a monk is to be allowed to stay for a while as a guest, and then enters a twelve month probation, during which he can leave at any time. After this, he takes full vows and enters the community for the rest of his life.
The Rule of St Benedict in European Monasteries
The Rule was found to be such a practical and comprehensive document that its use spread by word of mouth across Southern Italy to the rest of Europe. The Rule is still followed in the twenty-first century by members of the Order of St Benedict.
Sources
White, Carolinne (editor) The Rule of St Benedict [Penguin, 2008]
Burton, Janet Monastic and Religious Orders in Britain 1000-1300 [Cambridge University Press, 1994]
The Rule Was Followed Across Europe
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