He soon abandoned his literary studies begun in rome to lead a solitary life. It is written in sixthcentury latin, and its still relevant today in a direct sense. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source. The regula basilii is a latin translation of this work, done in 397. This rule of life is in christ the heart and soul of the most successful religious order in history. Dwight longenecker on how 6thcentury wisdom can be used today. This volume represents a new latin edition, translated and annotated in english by anna m. Texts and translations of the rule of saint benedict osb dot org. Benedict by chapters boniface verheyen osb, atchison, 1949 or in various formats at ccel. This full commentary predominately literary and historical criticism is based on and includes a latin text of regula benedicti liturgical press. Benedict sets forth the main principles of the religious life, viz the renunciation of ones own will and the taking up of arms under the banner of christ. Scholars tell us that the rule of the master was written before the rule of saint benedict and that saint benedict edited the rule of the master and added some material of his own. A timeless classic by the founder of western monasticism.
Written by a spiritual father for his children, the rule of st. He proposes to establish a school in which the science of salvation shall be taught, so that by persevering in the. It is one of the major sources of the rule of saint benedict, and benedict recommends it to zealous monks, calling it the rule of our holy father basil. For its general character and also its illustration of st. Benedicts rule is summed up in the motto of the benedictine confederation. Benedict of nursia when he was abbot of monte cassino. The document organising both the practical and spiritual aspects of our life is the rule of st benedict. And the rule which he established for his monks has had an influence throughout european history which has extended far beyond the cloisters of his own community. One of the earliest surviving manuscripts written in england is a copy of the. Regula benedicti is a book of precepts written by benedict of nursia c. Benedict, patriarch of monks, from the old english edition of 1638.
This full commentary predominately a literary and historical criticism is based on and includes a latin text of regula benedicti. Benedicts left hand is his rule for monasteries that could well be summed up in the words of the prolog exhorting us to walk in gods ways, with the gospel as our guide. Gregory the great, in his dialogues, tells us that she was a nun and leader of a community for women at plombariola, about five miles from benedicts abbey at monte cassino. Benedicts legacy is still strong his rule remains a source of inspiration and a key work in the history of the christian church.
This full commentary predominately a literary and historical criticism is based on and includes a latin text. Small octavo, original green cloth, dark top edge, original dust jacket. Texts and translations of the rule of saint benedict osb. Leadership in the rule of saint benedict santanselmo. We might wonder if saint benedict is simply in the line of many early monks and making these suggestions out of humility about his own rule. Benedict is not only an ideal guide for the individual wishing to follow the benedictine path.
Benedict is the poisoned cup, shattered when he made the sign of the cross over it. Oblates are lay people, married, single, or diocesan priests, seeking a more concrete way of living the gospel, according to the spirit of the rule of st. Another example of this type of inquiry into rules is rb 1980. Leadership in the rule of saint benedict abbot gregory polan, o. Saint benedict took material from many other sources, as did the rule of the master, and formed that material into his own rule. The rule of saint benedict, saint benedict of nursia, full. Ora et labora pray and work is the wellknown phrase that reflects the basic idea underlying the rule of monastic life, which was originally formulated by saint benedict of nursia around 480. Includes a detailed index and thorough, scholarly footnotes. Its dry reading but highly informative when read along with benedicts rule. Benedict is well recognized in the later dialogues of saint gregory, but these are sketches to illustrate miraculous elements of his career. It was written by benedict of nursia after 529 and is commonly referred to as the rule of st benedict. Above all, the rule reminds us of the fundamental value of living our lives in search and service of god, preferring nothing to the love of christ. English latin, 214 pages, with a very complete and informative preface.
Conception abbey, conception, missouri 64433 usa the portrait of an abbot painted by saint benedict in the rule is nothing short of a christportrait. Benedict, through which the essentials of western civilization were preserved amid the chaos and confusion of the dark ages, cannot be overestimated. Almost all we know about st benedict comes from st gregory the greats dialogues, where he says that benedict, vir dei benedictus, the blessed man of god, wrote a rule for monks that is remarkable for its discretion and its clarity of language dialogues, book 11, ch. Benedict by dom delatte with the holy rule text in latin and english. The rule of saint benedict regula benedicti is a book of precepts written by st. Carolinne whites accessible translation is accompanied by an introduction discussing benedicts teachings, what is known of his life, and the influence and spread of his rule.
Regula sancti benedicti is a book of precepts written in 516 by benedict of nursia c. In latin and english with notes translated by timothy fry, osb. It is unfortunate that no contemporary biography was written of a man who has exercised the greatest influence on monasticism in the west. The rule of saint benedict benedict of nursia, bruce l. Pdf the rule of st benedict in english download full. Here, however, it is treated more in detail, under the following heads.
For our own day, the rule of benedict is more than enough. Benedict is a timeless document in so many ways as fresh and relevant as it was when it was written almost fifteen hundred years ago. Although written for monastics, many of the issues addressed in the rule can be applied to life in the world outside the monastic community. The text starts on an illuminated page showing a latin cross with. It is a relatively short document, comprising a prologue and 73 chapters. The spirit of saint benedict s rule is summed up in the motto of the benedictine confederation. This new latinenglish edition has features of interest for firsttime readers of the rule as well as for scholars of medieval history and language. This full commentary predominately literary and historical criticism is based on and includes a latin text. The rule of saint benedict spread widely beginning in the seventh century, but in. Download pdf the rule of st benedict in english book full free. Kardong refers to all the major commentators on the rule worldwide so that this book gives the reader access to a broad range of interpretation of this important document. Benedict was a young nobleman born in nursia, italy c.
It summons us to recognize our responsibility in the world and the proper use of resources. The rule of st benedict in english available for download and read online in other formats. The rule opens with a prologue or hortatory preface, in which st. Benedict serves as an invitation to open our hearts to god. Luke dysinger osb, college of saint benedictsaint johns university follow. The rule of saint benedict is a book of precepts written by 6thcentury saint benedict of nursia for monks living communally under the authority of an. Ad 480550 for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. The rule of saint benedict, latinenglish clear creek abbey. One of the most influential texts in the middle ages, the rule of saint benedict offers guidance about both the spiritual and organizational dimensions, from the loftiest to the lowliest, of monastic life. This is the most comprehensive commentary on the rule of st. It represents the earliest manuscript of the rule of saint benedict in bavaria.
And the fourth kind is that of the monks called girovagi, who are all their lives guests for three or four days at a time in the different groups of cells through the various. Prologue verse 17 benedictine abbey of christ in the desert. Benedict by saint benedict, abbot of monte cassino. This work holds the first place among monastic legislative codes, and was by far the most important factor in the organization and spread of monasticism in the west. Very faint pencil marks to the margins of the preface, toning to folds and spine of the dust jacket. It could be that he really saw his rule as a rule for beginners and even hoped that monks would pursue a stronger form of monasticism. It reflects benedicts own long experience as a monk and abbot, and his study of the older monastic tradition which he uses extensively, especially an older text called the rule of the master by an anonymous author. There are many scenes in the gospels and within the larger scope of the. Rule of saint benedict project gutenberg selfpublishing.
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