Archbishop Enrique Benavent Vidal of Valencia encouraged Christians to read the Rule of St. Benedict during summer vacation. The archbishop highlighted the Rule's insights as useful for daily Christian life. The article mentions the upcoming feast of St. Benedict on July 11. The archbishop referenced St. Benedict's prologue, focusing on the desire for a fulfilling life.
5 months ago
Archbishop Enrique Benavent Vidal of Valencia, Spain, has encouraged Christians to utilize their summer vacation by reading and delving into the Rule of St. Benedict 1. He highlighted that the Rule, while originally for monks, contains "insights that are useful" for the daily lives of all Christians 1. The archbishop's recommendation coincides with the Catholic Church's celebration of the feast of St. Benedict, the patron saint of Europe, on July 11 1.
St. Benedict, who lived between the fifth and sixth centuries, guided his life by the desire for "true and perpetual life" with God, a goal reflected in the Rule's prologue: "Who is the man who desires life and wishes to see happy days?" 1. Archbishop Benavent emphasized that St. Benedict's teachings encourage living with one's gaze fixed on this ultimate goal 1.
Among the Rule's practical insights for all Christians is the exhortation to "not putting anything before the love of Christ" 1. This principle means valuing friendship with the Lord above all else, ensuring that work, possessions, and family life do not compromise this relationship 1. The archbishop stressed that an authentic Christian prioritizes this friendship in all aspects of daily life 1.
The Rule also offers warnings against common spiritual temptations, such as pride in one's conduct 1. It reminds Christians that good works are achieved "by the grace of God," cautioning against attributing success to personal strength 1. Furthermore, St. Benedict advises "not to desire to be called a saint before being one, but first to be one," serving as a caution against living for appearances rather than genuine spiritual reality 1. Christians, the archbishop noted, should prioritize living in truth over external perceptions 1.
How does Benedictine Rule guide Christian life?
The Benedictine Rule guides Christian life by emphasizing a balanced approach to prayer, work, and community, fostering a life of obedience, humility, and the sincere search for God .
Obedience (Labor Obedientiae): St. Benedict views obedience as a fundamental positive work, a "path that leads to God" . It involves cheerfully, unquestioningly, and promptly obeying the abbot, who is seen as holding the place of Christ, and also showing fraternal charity to all brethren . This obedience extends even to difficult tasks, which are to be attempted with humility . The Rule emphasizes the suppression of self-will, aligning one's will with God's designs and the good of the community . This principle helps Christians to renounce their own will and take up "the strong and most excellent arms of obedience, to do battle for Christ the Lord, the true King" .
Work (Ora et Labora): The Rule considers work not as a condition peculiar to slaves, but as a universal and necessary aspect of human well-being and Christian life . Idleness is seen as ruinous, and work is a primary disciplinary force for human nature, bringing individuals "back to God by the labour of obedience" . While the Benedictine order was not founded for a specific work, the work of its monks is a means to a good life, spiritualized and elevated beyond mere secular labor . This principle encourages Christians to see their daily work as a means of growth in goodness and a way to glorify God in all things .
Community Life (Cenobitical Life): St. Benedict's Rule is primarily concerned with regulating the life of a community that lives, works, prays, and eats together . It emphasizes a social and familial character, where the superior acts as the head of a household, and all members are permanent parts of it . The Rule promotes absolute communism in possessions and the rigorous suppression of worldly rank differences, treating all guests as Christ . This fosters a spirit of unity in Christ, where all bear equal rank in the service of the Lord . For Christians, this highlights the importance of communal living, mutual service, and hospitality.
Prayer (Opus Dei): Public, common prayer, particularly the recitation and singing of the Psalter, is established as the center of the common life, consecrating the entire community to God through daily acts of faith, praise, and adoration . This "work of God" (opus Dei) is the chief work of the monks and the source of inspiration, direction, and strength for all other activities . While the Rule does not legislate extensively on private prayer, it encourages it to be short and with purity of heart, leading naturally to higher states of prayer through the disciplined life it secures . This guides Christians to prioritize communal worship and to cultivate a life that naturally leads to deeper personal prayer.
Humility: The Rule dedicates an entire chapter to humility, which is achieved through the exercise of obedience practiced by faith inspired by love . Through humility, individuals conform more to Christ and attain true self-fulfillment as creatures made in the image and likeness of God . This teaches Christians the importance of self-emptying and conforming to Christ.
The Benedictine Rule, though written for beginners and simple folk, provides a complete life adapted for the observance of the Commandments and the beginnings of holiness . It has been praised by councils, popes, and commentators for its enduring vitality . While St. Benedict's primary aim was the moral and spiritual training of his disciples, the Rule inadvertently made monasteries schools of useful workers, refuges for society, and bulwarks of the Church, influencing agriculture, architecture, and the preservation of literature . The Rule's emphasis on stability, a new element introduced by St. Benedict, bound monks to a particular monastery, addressing the previous instability of Eastern monasticism .