The Rule of Saint Benedict
The Rule: A Guide for Benedictine Life
The Rule of St. Benedict was written more than fifteen centuries ago for people living in monasteries, but its wisdom has long reached far beyond monastery walls. For Oblates and Associates, the Rule offers a way of following Christ faithfully in the circumstances of everyday life.
The Gospel and the Rule are the two tracks that guide us in a chaotic world. We spend time each day in prayer, Scripture, and the Rule, allowing what we encounter there to shape how we worship, work, serve others, build relationships, and meet the ordinary joys and difficulties of life.
Reading the Rule
St. Benedict intended the Rule to be lived, not simply read. Contemplating a small portion each day gives us time to listen, reflect, and gradually make its wisdom our own.
For daily reading, we recommend St. Benedict's Rule for Monasteries.
Following the traditional reading schedule allows the entire Rule to be read three times each year.
The Bank of the Heart
In everyday life, we put money aside so that it will be there when we need it. Daily prayer and the reading of Scripture and the Rule work in much the same way. Each day we make a small deposit into the bank of our hearts. Then, when life brings trouble, sorrow, uncertainty, or loss, we have something to draw upon. The words and wisdom we have carried within us become a source of strength, helping us hold on, move forward, and remember that we do not walk alone.
Would you like to learn more?
You don't have to be ready to become an Oblate or Associate to begin exploring Benedictine spirituality. Step Inside: A Glimpse into the Benedictine Way offers a brief introduction to the Rule and how its wisdom can become part of your everyday life. Visit our Come & See page to learn more or find the next session.
The Rule of St. Benedict was written more than fifteen centuries ago for people living in monasteries, but its wisdom has long reached far beyond monastery walls. For Oblates and Associates, the Rule offers a way of following Christ faithfully in the circumstances of everyday life.
The Gospel and the Rule are the two tracks that guide us in a chaotic world. We spend time each day in prayer, Scripture, and the Rule, allowing what we encounter there to shape how we worship, work, serve others, build relationships, and meet the ordinary joys and difficulties of life.
Reading the Rule
St. Benedict intended the Rule to be lived, not simply read. Contemplating a small portion each day gives us time to listen, reflect, and gradually make its wisdom our own.
For daily reading, we recommend St. Benedict's Rule for Monasteries.
Following the traditional reading schedule allows the entire Rule to be read three times each year.
The Bank of the Heart
In everyday life, we put money aside so that it will be there when we need it. Daily prayer and the reading of Scripture and the Rule work in much the same way. Each day we make a small deposit into the bank of our hearts. Then, when life brings trouble, sorrow, uncertainty, or loss, we have something to draw upon. The words and wisdom we have carried within us become a source of strength, helping us hold on, move forward, and remember that we do not walk alone.
Would you like to learn more?
You don't have to be ready to become an Oblate or Associate to begin exploring Benedictine spirituality. Step Inside: A Glimpse into the Benedictine Way offers a brief introduction to the Rule and how its wisdom can become part of your everyday life. Visit our Come & See page to learn more or find the next session.
