RB 1980 : the rule of Saint Benedict in English

"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."--Publisher CONTENTS Preface ................................................................ 9 Chapters of the Rule Prologue..............................................................15 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. S. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. The Kinds of Monks . . . ■ ........................20 Qualities of the Abbot.................................. 21 Summoning the Brothers forCounsel. . .25 The Tools for Good Works.............................26 Obedience.....................................................29 Restraint of Speech........................................31 Humility.........................................................32 The Divine Office at Night............................38 The Number ofPsalms at the Night Office. .39 The Arrangement of the Night Office in Summer...................................................40 The Celebration of Vigils onSunday . . .40 The Celebration of the Solemnity ofLauds.........................................................41 The Celebration of Lauds on Ordinary Days..............................................42 The Celebration of Vigils on the Anniversaries of Saints.............................43 The Times for Saying Alleluia....................... 43 The Celebration of the Divine Office during the Day..............................................44 The Number ofPsalms to Be Sung at These Hours..............................................44 The Order ofthe Psalmody.............................45 The Discipline ofPsalmody.......................47 6 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. Contents Reverence in Prayer........................................48 The Deans ofthe Monastery.......................48 The Sleeping Arrangements ofthe Monks. .49 Excommunication for Faults........................49 Degrees of Excommunication....................... 50 Serious F a u l t s ............................................... 51 Unauthorized Association with the Excommunicated........................................ 51 The Abbot's Concern for the Excommunicated........................................ 51 Those Who Refuse to Amend after Frequent Reproofs....................................52 Readmission of Brothers Who Leave the Monastery..............................................53 TheMannerofReprovingBoys........................54 Qualifications of the Monastery Cellarer . . 54 The Tools and Goods of the Monastery . . 55 Monks and Private Ownership........................56 Distribution ofGoods According to Need. . 57 Kitchen Servers of the W eek........................57 The Sick Brothers.........................................59 The Elderly and Children.............................59 The Reader for the W eek.............................60 TheProperAmountofFood.............................61 The Proper Amount of Drink........................62 The Times for the Brothers’ Meals . . . .63 Silence after Compline...................................64 Tardiness at the Work of God or at Table . . 65 Satisfaction by the Excommunicated . . .66 Mistakes in the Oratory...................................67 Faults Committed in Other Matters . . .68 Announcing the Hours for the Work of G o d .............................................. 68 The Daily Manual Labor.............................69 Contents 7 49. The Observance ofLent...................................71 50. Brothers Working at a Distance orTraveling . 72 51. BrothersonaShortJourney.............................72 52. The Oratory of the Monastery........................72 53. The Reception of Guests.............................73 54. Letters or Gifts for Monks.............................75 55. The Clothing and Footwear of the Brothers . 75 56. The Abbot’s T able.........................................77 57. The Artisans of the Monastery........................77 58. The Procedure for Receiving Brothers . . .78 59. The Offering of Sons by Nobles or by the Poor . 81 60. The Admission of Priests to the M o n a s t e r y .................................................... 82 61. The Reception of Visiting Monks . . . .82 62. The Priests of the M onastery....................... 84 63. CommunityRank..............................................85 64. The Election of an Abbot.............................86 65. The Prior of the Monastery............................. 88 66. The Porter of the M onastery........................90 67. Brothers Sent on a Journey............................. 91 68. Assignment of Impossible Tasks to a Brother................................................... 92 69. The Presumption of Defending Another in the Monastery........................................92 70. The Presumption of Striking Another Monk at W ill....................................... . 93 71. Mutual Obedience........................................ 93 72. The Good Zeal of Monks.............................94 73. ThisRuleOnlyaBeginningofPerfection .95 Preface --^ Chapters Of The Rule.^ ^prologue ; The Kinds Of Monks ; Qualities Of The Abbot ; Summoning The Brothers For Counsel ; The Tools For Good Works ; Obedience ; Restraint Of Speech ; Humility ; The Divine Office At Night ; The Number Of Psalms At The Night Office ; The Arrangement Of The Night Office In Summer ; The Celebration Of Vigils On Sunday ; The Celebration Of The Solemnity Of Lauds ; The Celebration Of Lauds On Ordinary Days ; The Celebration Of Vigils On The Anniversaries Of Saints ; The Times For Saying Alleluia ; The Celebration Of The Divine Office During The Day ; The Number Of Psalms To Be Sung At These Hours ; The Order Of The Psalmody ; The Discipline Of Psalmody ; Reverence In Prayer ; The Deans Of The Monastery ; The Sleeping Arrangements Of The Monks ; Excommunication For Faults ; Degrees Of Excommunication ; Serious Faults ; Unauthorized Association With The Excommunicated ; The Abbot's Concern For The Excommunicated ; Those Who Refuse To Amend After Frequent Reproofs ; Readmission Of^ Brothers Who Leave The Monastery ; The Manner Of Reproving Boys ; Qualifications Of The Monasteiy Cellarer ; The Tools And Goods Of The Monastery ; Monks And Private Ownership ; Distribution Of Goods According To Need ; Kitchen Servers Of The Week ; The Sick Brothers ; The Elderly And Children ; The Reader For The Week ; The Proper Amount Of Food ; The Proper Amount Of Drink ; The Times For The Brothers' Meals ; Silence After Compline ; Tardiness At The Work Of God Or At Table ; Satisfaction By The Excommunicated ; Mistakes In The Oratory ; Faults Committed In Other Matters ; Announcing The Hours For The Work Of God ; The Daily Manual Labor ; The Observance Of Lent ; Brothers Working At A Distance Or Traveling ; Brothers On A Short Journey ; The Oratory Of The Mnasteiy ; The Reception Of Guests ; Letters Or Gifts For Monks ; The Clothing And Footwear Of The Brothers ; The Abbot's Table ; The Artisans Of The Monasteiy ; The Procedure For Receiving Brothers ; The Offering Of Sons By^ Nobles Or By The Poor ; The Admission Of Priests To The Monasteiy ; The Reception Of Visiting Monks ; The Priests Of The Monasteiy ; Community Rank ; The Election Of An Abbot ; The Prior Of The Monastery ; The Porter Of The Monastery ; Brothers Sent On A Journey ; Assignment Of Impossible Tasks To A Brother ; The Presumption Of Defending Another In The Monastery ; The Presumption Of Striking Another Monk At Will ; Mutual Obedience ; The Good Zeal Of Monks ; This Rule Only A Beginning Of Perfection. Editor, Timothy Fry ; Associate Editors, Imogene Baker ... [et Al.]. Translation Of: Regula.