Benedict: The Rule Context The Christian church has taken on a new social structure as a result of the peace of Constantine. The persecution has ceased and the church has become powerful as acceptance is found for the Christian. The church now becomes open to the influence of riches and comfortable living, and the theology of the church conforms taking on a structure like that of the imperial empire. Aristocracy and privilege is accepted within the church, which leads to lack of discipline. This opens the door to division and scrutiny within the church and its believers. The monastic movement comes as a result from this scrutiny. There are those who believe that that the current security and life of comfort are enemies of the church. They leave for the desert where they seek out a way of asceticism. Paul and Anthony were both monks who sought this life in the Egyptian desert, seeking solitude and a place away from the temptations and chaos.
Two generations later Benedict, who was born to Roman aristocracy in the small town of Nursia in 480 A. D., is influenced by this same struggle and seeks to live in solitude. At the age of 20 he leaves the city and lives as a hermit for three years in a cave developing a following of people seeking the same discipline and structure. He builds a monastery in Monte Cassino, where they can practice asceticism. Benedict’s rule is his structured framework for the monastic society. His rule proved to not be as harsh as the monks in the earlier movement, and provides a way of monastic life rooted in permanence and obedience.
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In the Prologue of his rule, Benedict instructs the members of the community to listen and be obedient, by listening to the Father who calls them to renounce their own will and follow the will of God. Benedict is prefacing his work by establishing that this work will be a school for the service of the Lord for the establishment of this community. In the first three chapters Benedict lays out who makes up the community, how it is to be led, and the structure of the leadership. The abbot and the delineation of the decisions to be made in the community are to ensure the seeking of faith and service to the Lord. Chapter four lays out the good works that are to be followed and carried out in service to the Lord. Following through on all of these works and commands depends on remaining in the monastery and the stability of the community. The ideals of obedience, silence, and humility are emphasized in the next chapters. The main principle of the rule lies in the detailed focus on prayer and reading of the psalms in chapter 18. A majority of the rest of the rule lays out the schedule of the service, devotion and practice of the monastic community. There is attention laid out on how to address concerns that will arise in conflict and many ways to avoid the conflict by repeating, “Do not to another what you would not done to yourself.” in chapter 70. In chapter 72 Benedict expresses that the members of the community should not let evil separate them from God, but should aspire to find a good zeal to lead them to God and life everlasting.
The conclusion in chapter 73 advises the reader that this is the beginning of the process to find a way to an obedient and faithful life, and starts the beginner on the way to virtue. This rule is not meant to be a way of perfection, but more of a rule for the beginner to find a way of virtue and the start of a spiritual life. Text in Context The rule from Benedict would be the structure and influence of monastic life from the 500s up to the present day. The rule would find its way to Rome after a fire in 589 and then was read by Gregory who later became pope. This led to support from the papacy and many in Rome followed it. It also made it way to the British Isles through the missionary Augustine, which helped it to spread through the west. The practices and ideals would influence the Western church as the rule became widespread as a guide for such living. The monasteries brought economic growth to marginal lands throughout Europe. The monks worked the land through physical labor and this was a great influence where manual labor was considered demeaning by the wealthy. This showed that those who were intellectual could also provide service and work.
This writing helps the people to find order in the midst of chaos within the world at this time. It directs the Christian in their spiritual journey by giving them a guide for the structure of a follower of Christ. Many of the followers would have been lost to the time if they had not found the sanctuary and structure of this environment to lead them in their spiritual life. The monasteries that came as result influenced the communities and growth through obedience, service and prayer. Monasteries served as centers for teaching children, providing medical care, and also refuge for travelers. They copied the Bible and were instrumental for bringing it to the marginal communities and also providing literacy to those areas.
The rule would also be a guide for those who chose the life of celibacy and service to God in the roles of nuns and priests within the Catholic Church, and the influence on the Christian church is still present today.