For fifteen centuries Benedictine monasticism has been governed by a Rule that is at once strong enough to instill order and yet flexible enough to have relevance fifteen-hundred years later. This pocket-sized, English-only edition is perfect for individual or group study.

A handy, pocket-sized edition of St. Benedict's Rule with sections dated so that the Rule may be read three times a year.

"A commentary on parts of the Rule of St. Benedict (prologue and chapters 53, 58, 72, and 73)"--Provided by publisher.

St Benedict's Rule is a set of guidelines that has governed Christian monastic life since the 6th century. Those who live according to the Rule regard it as the bedrock of their lives and feel great affection for its author. In this book four prominent Buddhist scholars turn their attention to the Rule. Through personal anecdotes, lively debate and thoughtful comparison, they reveal how the wisdom of each tradition can revitalise the other and how their own spiritual practices have been enriched through familiarity with the Rule. Their insights are written not only for Buddhists and Christians but for anyone interested in the ancient discipline of monasticism and what it might offer a materially glutted and spiritually famished culture. This book also includes a new translation of the Rule by the former Abbot of Ampleforth, Patrick Barry.

Benedict's Rule: A Translation and Commentary is the first line-by-line exegesis of the entire Rule of Benedict written originally in English. This full commentary - predominately a literary and historical criticism - is based on and includes a new translation and is accompanied by essays on Benedict's spiritual doctrine. A monk who has striven to live according to the Rule of Benedict for thirty-five years, Father Kardong relates it to modern monastic life while examining the sources (Cassian, Augustine, and Basil) Benedict used to establish his Rule. Overviews - summaries of notes, source criticism, or structural criticism - follow some chapters, and a large bibliography of the current scholarship and source references are also included. Benedict's Rule: A Translation and Commentary also includes the Latin text of the Regula Benedicti. This reference work is invaluable to libraries and to those who are called to interpret the Rule. It will be opened again and again. Indexed.

Intro -- Titlepage -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Chapter 4: The Instruments of Good Works -- Chapter 5: On Obedience -- Chapter 6: On Keeping Silent -- Chapter 7: About Humility -- Conclusion -- List of Abbreviations -- Bibliographies -- I. Editions of the Rule of Benedict and of the Rule of the Master -- II. Patristic and Monastic Texts -- III. Secondary Sources and Studies

The single most important document on monastic life that helped to shape Western society Composed in Italy around 530 AD but based on earlier compilations, The Rule of St Benedict has been the defining guide to daily prayer and work for Benedictine communities for fifteen centuries. The Rule also embodies the idea of a written constitution, authority limited by law and under the law, and the right of the ruled to review the legality of their superiors' actions-ideas at the heart of the West's most treasured civic institutions. This is a fundamental contribution to the tradition of simple living that continues to experience a renaissance.

The Rule of St Benedict, which dates from the sixth century, is the foundation of monasticism, one of the oldest continuing institutions in all of Western civilization. The Rule not only defines life for men and women in monasteries, but has also become central to the spirituality of lay Christians across the globe. For communities and individuals alike, the text of the Rule is central. This first ever gender-neutral translation is true to the original text but provides an alternative for those who might prefer such a version over the masculine language of the original as it was written for St Benedict’s monks, or as a text to read alongside Benedict’s original.