Reflection on The Rule of St. Benedict

by Sister Emily Meisel, OSB

Monasticism evolved over a period of several hundred years before Benedict wrote his Rule in mid-sixth century Italy. Prior to the rise of the monastic way of life, martyrdom was the sign of the honored heroes of the early Church. As the Church became free of persecution and the age of martyrs came to an end, Christians looked for another way to live out their lives in a radical commitment. Just as the martyrs had lain down their lives to follow Christ, now monks went out into the desert to do battle against the evils of society. Those seeking this austere lifestyle found teachers to guide them. As teachers gathered disciples, a rule of life was necessary. Consequently, each monastery…

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FULL REFLECTION ON RULE OF ST. BENEDICT