The Rule actually contains a treasure of spiritual wisdom concerning the monastic movement in the Church. Its Prologue and seventy-three chapters provide teaching about the basic monastic virtues of humility, silence, and obedience as well as directives for daily living.
RB prescribes times for common prayer, meditative reading, and manual work; it legislates for the details of common living such as clothing, sleeping arrangements, food and drink, care of the sick, reception of guests, recruitment of new members, journeys away from the monastery, etc. While the Rule does not shun minute instructions, it allows the abbot to determine in great detail the particulars of common living.
RB , written anywhere between and , is not an entirely original document. It depends in great measure on the rules and traditions of Christian monasticism that existed from the fourth century to the time of its writing.
Scholars note that rules and writings like those of St. Pachomius fourth-century Egypt , St. Basil fourth-century Asia Minor , St. Augustine fourth- and fifth-century North Africa , Cassian fifth-century southern Gaul stand behind RB and at times are clearly evident in the text. Not infrequently, especially in RB's Prologue and first seven chapters, Benedict copied extensively from the Rule of the Master.
Benedict picked up the monastic tradition and even copied from its documents as was customary at the time ; but he also corrected and altered the tradition in significant ways. Benedict wrote his Rule in the spoken and ordinary Latin of the day.
It is not the classical Latin of antiquity nor the scholarly Latin taught in the remaining schools of his time, though occasionally his language is elegant and polished. As the Rule drifts from the classical language it also gives evidence of the breakdown of Latin into more common forms of speech what later became the Romance languages. Benedict writes with crispness and directness; seldom is he profuse or homiletic.
Compared with the tradition and especially with the Rule of the Master , Benedict legislates for a monastic life that has rhythm, measure, and discretion. His monks are not overdriven by austerities in fasting and night vigils. They do not own anything personally, but they have enough to eat and to drink even wine when it is available and to clothe themselves. They work with their hands about six hours a day but they also have leisure for prayerful reading and common prayer.
In this Chapter 4, the abbot seems to be called to be very loving and forgiving and compassionate. When Saint Benedict says that the abbot should strive to be loved more than feared, it is clear that the abbot is also feared.
That is normal in the exercise of power. But the fear needs to come from good motivations. This is not the type of fear that comes from an abbot who is explosive, an abbot who is mean, an abbot who is too strict, etc. Love is always the basic and underlying reality in Jesus Christ that must be conveyed to each of the brothers, no matter how difficult he may be. It is never easy to be a monk and it is not easy to be an abbot. The abbot must be able to love each one of the brothers, especially those most rejected by the community.
The abbot must always be able to see the possibility of conversion and change in each monk. The abbot must be able to encourage each brother.
The abbot must be able to give direction to the community. If you have two minutes to fill in our website feedback form , we would love to hear what you think Chapter The Election of an Abbot 1 In choosing an abbot, the guiding principle should always be that the man placed in office be the one selected either by the whole community acting unanimously in the fear of God, or by some part of the community, no matter how small, which possesses sounder judgment.
Chapter Abbots are in charge of a monastery and control the monastery's possessions, discipline of the monks, and give blessings. Biography and History lessons help us to learn how to live better lives based on the vices and virtues of people in the past. There are four of them. They are prudence: always moving toward virtue and away from vice. Justice: giving others what they deserve. Fortitude: staying faithful during difficulties. And Temperance: keeping balance in all areas of life.
Abbots have to practice prudence and we should too. Abbots have control over large amounts of people and property. The employees choose to work there in exchange for money.
We all have roles in our lives where we are in charge of someone or something. We have to be prudent with all our decisions, especially when they directly affect other people. It is our duty to move closer to God as much as possible each day, and away from Satan and sin.
Use prudence to do that. Ask God for help. Ask your guardian angel for help. Follow the commandments. I mean, I beat the same drum every episode right? The concept of being holy is simple, but as Christ says, the road getting there is narrow and difficult to travel. But, with prudence and grace from God, you can do it. I believe in you. This has been the Shalone Cason Show. Until next time, stay holy my friends and we are going to close out as always: in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace out. Full Script Introduction An abbot is the title given to the superior of a community of twelve or more monks. Terminology The name is derived from abba, the Syriac form of the Hebrew ab, and means "father". Today we answer the question History of Monasteries Monastic communities were first organized in Egypt at the beginning of the fourth century. Monastic Superiors Every group of hermits and monks naturally had its superior.
Clerical Status of Abbots Abbots, like the monks over whom they ruled, were originally laymen, and subject to the bishop of the diocese.
Abbots Nowadays To this very day In the Roman Catholic Church, abbots continue to be elected by the monks of an abbey to lead them as their religious superior in those orders and monasteries that make use of the term some orders of monks, as the Carthusians for instance, have no abbots, only priors.
So now for a quick recap: An abbot is the title given to the superior of a community of twelve or more monks. What can we learn from Abbots? Outro This has been the Shalone Cason Show. The link has been copied!
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