Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Image Books
Description
A timeless source of wisdom for people looking to lead a life of simplicity, purpose, and serenity The Rule of St. Benedict has governed monastic communities for centuries, but it is far more than a standard religious text. The Rule is, above all, a handbook for living a deliberate life-no matter your religious background or beliefs. It teaches the importance of contemplation and silence, of solitude, and the power of community and unity. With lessons focusing on the simple acts of everyday life, like eating and daily work, along with wisdom for the deeply personal and internal facets of living, such as cultivating humility and practicing forgiveness, The Rule of St. Benedict is a profound guide to living a good and meaningful life. An award-winning translator, Philip Freeman's version of The Rule is beautifully accessible in its language. With a simple and direct style, the book lays out a way of living that is transformative in its simplicity and striking in its power. A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Essentials.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member lillesmilla
I would also recommend Joan Chittiser's books on The Rule; Wisdom from the Daily is a very practical application. The Benedictine life is a way to live spiritually in the modern world, with prayer, hospitality and work as the anchor in chaos whether you are an oblate, in an abbey or just wish to
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live a more contemplative life. Show Less
LibraryThing member John5918
Full of common sense and just as applicable to life now as it was hundreds of years ago.
LibraryThing member edwin.gleaves
Important book in the history of the priesthood, most especially the Dominicans.
LibraryThing member ViaCassian
The large font and eye-pleasing format make this beautiful book perfect for reading daily after the divine office.
Doyle’s 1948 translation of the Rule of St. Benedict is my favorite because of its beauty and grace. His translation can be found in several book forms. This is a beautiful hardcover
This book was “published in conjunction with the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of The Liturgical Press.” This beautiful book is printed in two colors on a “70 pound Cougar Opaque natural vellum finish sheet, with an 80 pound Cougar natural text end-sheet. It is casebound in a Cialux cover with leaf foil stamps.”
Doyle’s 1948 translation of the Rule of St. Benedict is my favorite because of its beauty and grace. His translation can be found in several book forms. This is a beautiful hardcover
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version published in 2001. This book was “published in conjunction with the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of The Liturgical Press.” This beautiful book is printed in two colors on a “70 pound Cougar Opaque natural vellum finish sheet, with an 80 pound Cougar natural text end-sheet. It is casebound in a Cialux cover with leaf foil stamps.”
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LibraryThing member Harrod
Wore out but wonderful still
LibraryThing member mykl-s
A venerable organization manual and employee's handbook that has been useful for fifteen centuries.
LibraryThing member empress8411
This is a tight, sharp, clean little work. Benedict is clear and precise, with limited words. His rules seem a bit strict to my modern mind (not a fan of the idea of beating children) but I understand that during the time, this was acceptable and even laudable. My inherent mistrust of humans causes
That aside, this was a worthwhile read. To understand how the Benedictine monks lived, and to perhaps find wisdom for living ones own life. One doesn't need to be a monk to require advice on how to deal with other humans in a manner pleasing to God. This book offers excellent assistance in that area: worth reading and worth buying.
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me to ask whether Benedict's rule would work - there is much room for the miss-use of power. The answer, of course, is that each monk should be so devoted to Christ that he exudes the humility and kindness of the Lord. But humans are notoriously prone to self-interest and to the use of religious belief and the name of God to further their own agenda. That aside, this was a worthwhile read. To understand how the Benedictine monks lived, and to perhaps find wisdom for living ones own life. One doesn't need to be a monk to require advice on how to deal with other humans in a manner pleasing to God. This book offers excellent assistance in that area: worth reading and worth buying.
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LibraryThing member deusvitae
A fresh translation of the Rule of Benedict, from sixth century Italy.
The introductory materials and translation with notes are strong. The translator does well to welcome the reader into the world of sixth century Italy, the life of Benedict, and what precipitated the establishment of his Rule.
The substance of the Rule has become the basis of the Benedictine family of monasteries and part of the basis of all other monastic orders of the West. Benedict focused highly on a lot of the practical details about life in a monastic setting: everything from the purpose of being a monk to details about how meals ought to be governed and when various psalms should be read.
This is a helpful edition of the Rule for a modern audience. There are many principles which all can benefit from in terms of discipline and spirituality in the faith. On the whole, however, one can see the challenges that arise from such a hierarchical understanding of all relationships, and where danger might arise in considering the abbot as Jesus Himself. We can understand the impulse to withdraw into the contemplative life, and certainly can appreciate the need for seasons of contemplation and periods of contemplation - but Jesus lived in and among the people, and His people should be as well.
**--galley received as part of book review program
The introductory materials and translation with notes are strong. The translator does well to welcome the reader into the world of sixth century Italy, the life of Benedict, and what precipitated the establishment of his Rule.
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The translation is very clear in modern English, and the notes are helpful for understanding for those who may not be familiar with the language of the monastery.The substance of the Rule has become the basis of the Benedictine family of monasteries and part of the basis of all other monastic orders of the West. Benedict focused highly on a lot of the practical details about life in a monastic setting: everything from the purpose of being a monk to details about how meals ought to be governed and when various psalms should be read.
This is a helpful edition of the Rule for a modern audience. There are many principles which all can benefit from in terms of discipline and spirituality in the faith. On the whole, however, one can see the challenges that arise from such a hierarchical understanding of all relationships, and where danger might arise in considering the abbot as Jesus Himself. We can understand the impulse to withdraw into the contemplative life, and certainly can appreciate the need for seasons of contemplation and periods of contemplation - but Jesus lived in and among the people, and His people should be as well.
**--galley received as part of book review program
Show Less
LibraryThing member k6gst
Really good reading.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
c. 500
ISBN
0385009488 / 9780385009485
Local notes
Contents
Introduction
Prologue
1. The different kinds of monks and their customs
2. The qualities of the abbot
3. The counsel of the brothers
4. The instruments of good works
5. Obedience
6. Silence
7. Humility
8. The Divine Office at night (Matins)
9. How many psalms are to be said in the Night Office
10. How the Night Office is to be said in summer
11. How Matins is to be celebrated on Sundays
12. Lauds - celebration
13. Lauds - ordinary days
14. Night Office on Saints' Days
15. The seasons during which Alleluia is chanted
16. The Day Office
17. The number of psalms said in the Day Office
18. Psalms - order to be chanted
19. How the Office should be performed
20. Reverence at prayer
21. The deans of the monastery
22. How the monks are to sleep
23. Excommunication for faults
24. The measure of excommunication
25. Grave faults
26. Those who meet with the excommunicated without leave of the abbot
27. The abbot's care of the excommunicated
28. Those who do not change their ways despite much correction
29. Readmittance of departed brothers
30. Correction of youths
31. The cellarer
32. Property and utensils
33. Private ownership by monks
34. The apportionment of necessities
35. Weekly kitchen service
36. Sick brothers
37. Old men and children
38. The weekly reader
39. Food apportionment
40. Drink apportionment
41. Dining hours
42. No talk after Compline
43. Late-comers to the Divine Office and meals
44. How the excommunicated are to make satisfaction
45. Mistakes in the oratory
46. Offenses in other matters
47. Sounding the Hours of the Divine Office
48. Daily manual labor
49. Observance of Lent
50. Brothers who work at a distance from the oratory or a traveling
51. Brothers who do not go far
52. The oratory of the monastery
53. The reception of guests
54. The receipt of letters and presents
55. Clothing and shoes
56. The abbot's table
57. Artisans and craftsmen
58. The admission of new brothers
59. Sons of noblemen or of poor men offered to God's service
60. Priests who would live in the monastery
61. Reception of pilgrim monks
62. Priests of the monastery
63. Rank in the monastery
64. Election of the abbot
65. Provost of the monastery
66. The porter of the monastery
67. Brothers sent on a journey
68. When a brother is asked to do the impossible
69. No one shall presume to defend another in the monastery
70. No one is to presume to strike another
71. The brothers ought to obey one another
72. The good zeal monks should possess
73. All perfection is not herein attained
Notes
Composite Plan of a Medieval Benedictine Monastery
Further Reading
Introduction
Prologue
1. The different kinds of monks and their customs
2. The qualities of the abbot
3. The counsel of the brothers
4. The instruments of good works
5. Obedience
6. Silence
7. Humility
8. The Divine Office at night (Matins)
9. How many psalms are to be said in the Night Office
10. How the Night Office is to be said in summer
11. How Matins is to be celebrated on Sundays
12. Lauds - celebration
13. Lauds - ordinary days
14. Night Office on Saints' Days
15. The seasons during which Alleluia is chanted
16. The Day Office
17. The number of psalms said in the Day Office
18. Psalms - order to be chanted
19. How the Office should be performed
20. Reverence at prayer
21. The deans of the monastery
22. How the monks are to sleep
23. Excommunication for faults
24. The measure of excommunication
25. Grave faults
26. Those who meet with the excommunicated without leave of the abbot
27. The abbot's care of the excommunicated
28. Those who do not change their ways despite much correction
29. Readmittance of departed brothers
30. Correction of youths
31. The cellarer
32. Property and utensils
33. Private ownership by monks
34. The apportionment of necessities
35. Weekly kitchen service
36. Sick brothers
37. Old men and children
38. The weekly reader
39. Food apportionment
40. Drink apportionment
41. Dining hours
42. No talk after Compline
43. Late-comers to the Divine Office and meals
44. How the excommunicated are to make satisfaction
45. Mistakes in the oratory
46. Offenses in other matters
47. Sounding the Hours of the Divine Office
48. Daily manual labor
49. Observance of Lent
50. Brothers who work at a distance from the oratory or a traveling
51. Brothers who do not go far
52. The oratory of the monastery
53. The reception of guests
54. The receipt of letters and presents
55. Clothing and shoes
56. The abbot's table
57. Artisans and craftsmen
58. The admission of new brothers
59. Sons of noblemen or of poor men offered to God's service
60. Priests who would live in the monastery
61. Reception of pilgrim monks
62. Priests of the monastery
63. Rank in the monastery
64. Election of the abbot
65. Provost of the monastery
66. The porter of the monastery
67. Brothers sent on a journey
68. When a brother is asked to do the impossible
69. No one shall presume to defend another in the monastery
70. No one is to presume to strike another
71. The brothers ought to obey one another
72. The good zeal monks should possess
73. All perfection is not herein attained
Notes
Composite Plan of a Medieval Benedictine Monastery
Further Reading
Other editions
The Rule of St Benedict by Saint Benedict of Nursia (Hardcover)
The Rule of Saint Benedict by Saint Benedict of Nursia (Paperback)