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The Rule of St. Benedict

It was the genius of Saint Benedict’s plan to provide for both the spiritual and material welfare of his monastic brethren. The Benedictine Rule was much more than a spiritual plan; it was a complete administrative package that included a workable daily regime. Moreover, Saint Benedict recognized the limitations of humanity and provided for differences in age, ability, needs, disposition, and faith. The flexibility of the Benedictine Rule largely accounts for the success of the order among different peoples, places, and times.

The Rule of St. Benedict, translated into English. A Pax Book, preface by W.K. Lowther Clarke (London: S.P.C.K., 1931).

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The text is in the public domain.

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Author: Saint Benedict
Foreword: William Kemp Lowther Clarke

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MANUALS OF THE INNER LIFE
PREFACE
INTRODUCTORY NOTES
NOTE ON THE HISTORY OF THE TEXT
CONTENTS
HERE BEGINNETH THE PROLOGUE TO A RULE FOR MONASTERIES
HERE BEGINNETH THE TEXT OF THE RULE
CHAPTER I: CONCERNING THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF MONKS
CHAPTER II: WHAT KIND OF MAN AN ABBOT OUGHT TO BE
CHAPTER III: CONCERNING THE CALLING OF THE BRETHREN TO COUNCIL
CHAPTER IV: WHAT ARE THE INSTRUMENTS OF GOOD WORKS
CHAPTER V: CONCERNING OBEDIENCE
CHAPTER VI: CONCERNING SILENCE
CHAPTER VII: CONCERNING HUMILITY
CHAPTER VIII: CONCERNING THE DIVINE OFFICE AT NIGHT
CHAPTER IX: HOW MANY PSALMS ARE TO BE SAID AT THE NIGHT HOURS
CHAPTER X: HOW NIGHT PRAISE IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN SUMMER TIME
CHAPTER XI: HOW NIGHT OFFICE IS TO BE SAID ON LORD’S DAYS
CHAPTER XII: HOW THE OFFICE OF LAUDS IS TO BE SUNG
CHAPTER XIII: HOW LAUDS ARE TO BE SAID ON FERIAS
CHAPTER XIV: HOW NIGHT OFFICE IS TO BE SAID ON THE FEASTS OF SAINTS
CHAPTER XV: IN WHICH SEASONS ALLELUIA IS TO BE SAID
CHAPTER XVI: HOW THE WORK OF GOD IS TO BE CARRIED OUT DURING THE DAY
CHAPTER XVII: HOW MANY PSALMS ARE TO BE SUNG AT THESE HOURS
CHAPTER XVIII: IN WHAT ORDER THE PSALMS THEMSELVES ARE TO BE SAID
CHAPTER XIX: CONCERNING THE DISCIPLINE OF SAYING OFFICE
CHAPTER XX: CONCERNING REVERENCE IN PRAYER
CHAPTER XXI: CONCERNING THE DEANS OF THE MONASTERY
CHAPTER XXII: HOW THE MONKS ARE TO SLEEP
CHAPTER XXIII: CONCERNING EXCOMMUNICATION FOR OFFENCES
CHAPTER XXIV: WHAT THE MEASURE OF EXCOMMUNICATION SHOULD BE
CHAPTER XXV: CONCERNING GRAVER FAULTS
CHAPTER XXVI: CONCERNING THOSE WHO WITHOUT THE ORDERS OF THE ABBOT CONSORT WITH THE EXCOMMUNICATE
CHAPTER XXVII: HOW SOLICITOUS THE ABBOT SHOULD BE FOR THE EXCOMMUNICATE
CHAPTER XXVIII: CONCERNING THOSE WHO SHALL NOT HAVE AMENDED THOUGH SOMEWHAT OFTEN CORRECTED
CHAPTER XXIX: IF BRETHREN WHO GO OUT FROM THE MONASTERY OUGHT TO BE RECEIVED BACK AGAIN
CHAPTER XXX: CONCERNING THE YOUNGER BOYS, HOW THEY ARE TO BE CORRECTED
CHAPTER XXXI: CONCERNING THE CELLARER OF THE MONASTERY, WHAT SORT OF A PERSON HE SHOULD BE
CHAPTER XXXII: CONCERNING THE IRON TOOLS AND OTHER THINGS BELONGING TO THE MONASTERY
CHAPTER XXXIII: WHETHER MONKS OUGHT TO HAVE ANYTHING OF THEIR OWN
CHAPTER XXXIV: WHETHER ALL OUGHT TO RECEIVE NECESSARIES EQUALLY
CHAPTER XXXV: CONCERNING THE WEEKLY KITCHENERS
CHAPTER XXXVI: CONCERNING THE SICK AND INFIRM BRETHREN
CHAPTER XXXVII: CONCERNING THE OLD AND INFANTS
CHAPTER XXXVIII: CONCERNING THE WEEKLY READER
CHAPTER XXXIX: CONCERNING THE QUANTITY OF FOODS
CHAPTER XL: CONCERNING THE QUANTITY OF DRINK
CHAPTER XLI: AT WHAT HOURS THE BRETHREN OUGHT TO HAVE THEIR MEALS
CHAPTER XLII: THAT NO ONE TALK AFTER COMPLINE
CHAPTER XLIII: CONCERNING THOSE WHO COME LATE TO THE WORK OF GOD OR TO TABLE
CHAPTER XLIV: CONCERNING SUCH AS ARE EXCOMMUNICATED, HOW THEY MAY MAKE SATISFACTION
CHAPTER XLV: CONCERNING THOSE WHO MAKE MISTAKES IN THE ORATORY
CHAPTER XLVI: CONCERNING THOSE WHO DO AMISS IN ANY OTHER MATTERS
CHAPTER XLVII: OF NOTIFYING THE HOUR OF THE WORK OF GOD
CHAPTER XLVIII: CONCERNING THE DAILY MANUAL WORK
CHAPTER XLIX: CONCERNING THE OBSERVANCE OF LENT
CHAPTER L: CONCERNING BRETHREN WHO ARE WORKING AT A DISTANCE FROM THE ORATORY, OR ARE ON THE ROAD
CHAPTER LI: CONCERNING BRETHREN WHO DO NOT GO FAR AWAY
CHAPTER LII: OF THE ORATORY OF THE MONASTERY
CHAPTER LIII: OF HOW GUESTS ARE TO BE RECEIVED
CHAPTER LIV: IF A MONK OUGHT TO RECEIVE LETTERS OR TOKENS
CHAPTER LV: CONCERNING THE BRETHREN’S CLOTHES AND SHOES
CHAPTER LVI: CONCERNING THE ABBOT’S TABLE
CHAPTER LVII: CONCERNING ARTIFICERS IN THE MONASTERY
CHAPTER LVIII: CONCERNING THE DISCIPLINE OF THOSE TO BE RECEIVED AS BRETHREN
CHAPTER LIX: CONCERNING NOBLEMEN’S SONS AND POOR MEN’S SONS WHO ARE OFFERED
CHAPTER LX: CONCERNING PRIESTS WHO BY CHANCE SHALL WISH TO LIVE IN THE MONASTERY
CHAPTER LXI: CONCERNING MONKS WHO ARE STRANGERS, HOW THEY SHOULD BE RECEIVED
CHAPTER LXII: CONCERNING THE PRIESTS OF THE MONASTERY
CHAPTER LXIII: CONCERNING THE ORDER OF THE COMMUNITY
CHAPTER LXIV: CONCERNING THE ELECTION OF AN ABBOT
CHAPTER LXV: CONCERNING THE PROVOST OF THE MONASTERY
CHAPTER LXVI: CONCERNING THE PORTER OF THE MONASTERY
CHAPTER LXVII: CONCERNING BRETHREN SENT ON A JOURNEY
CHAPTER LXVIII: IF IMPOSSIBILITIES BE ENJOINED UPON A BROTHER
CHAPTER LXIX: THAT IN THE MONASTERY ONE PRESUME NOT TO CONSTITUTE HIMSELF THE PATRON OF ANOTHER
CHAPTER LXX: THAT NO ONE PRESUME TO STRIKE ANOTHER UNLAWFULLY
CHAPTER LXXI: THAT THE BRETHREN BE OBEDIENT AMONG THEMSELVES
CHAPTER LXXII: CONCERNING THE GOOD ZEAL WHICH MONKS OUGHT TO HAVE
CHAPTER LXXIII: CONCERNING THIS, NAMELY THAT NOT EVERY OBSERVANCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LAID DOWN IN THIS RULE
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The Rule of St. Benedict

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