The Rule of St. Benedict

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.

The Rule of Saint Benedict (Latin: Regula Sancti Benedicti) is a book of precepts written in 516 by St. Benedict of Nursia (c. AD 480–550) for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot.

The Rule of Saint Benedict has been used by Benedictines for 15 centuries. This is why St. Benedict is regarded as the founder of Western monasticism. His rules greatly reformed the Catholic hierarchy of his time. His Rule was written as a guide for individual, autonomous communities, and all Benedictine Houses (and the Congregations in which they have grouped themselves) still remain self-governing. Advantages seen in retaining this unique Benedictine emphasis on autonomy include cultivating models of tightly bonded communities and contemplative lifestyles.