The Statute of St. Benedict ( Latin: Regula Benedicti ) is a book of commandments written by St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) for monks living in the community under the leadership of the abbot . Starting around the seventh century, this charter was also adopted by women's communities. Over the course of one and a half thousand years of its existence, the book of commandments has become a significant vehicle for Western Christianity , who lived in a monastic community. The essence of the Statute of St. Benedict is summarized in the motto of the Benedictine Confederation : pax ( “peace” ) and traditional ora et labora ( “pray and work” ).
Content
History
The charter of St. Benedict creatively incorporates the tradition of ancient Gallic monasticism, the monasticism of St. Augustine and Eastern monasticism, which St. Benedict met through the writings of St. Basil the Great and St. John of Cassian . One of the sources for the Charter of St. Benedict also served as an anonymous monastic charter "Rules of the Teacher" ( lat. Regula magistri ) [1] .
In general, the charter of St. Benedict is very practical, it emphasizes the daily needs and responsibilities of the monastic community, both in worship and in economic activities.
“We must establish a detachment of divine service” - “Constituenda est ergo a nobis dominici schola servitii”. Therefore, the activity of a monk is expressed by the word "militare" - "to serve"; and the charter is nothing but “lex, sub qua militare vis” - a law, inviolable and immutable, as the law of military discipline is immutable. The "holy charter" contains everything that is necessary for the warrior of the Lord; it is a "charter mentor." The charter of Benedict is intended for the majority, for average people, with the goal of educating them in the spirit of a monastic ideal [2] .
In the charter, the principle of kinovia (communal monasticism) and the principle of monastery autonomy are very strongly emphasized. The charter strongly emphasizes the need to cultivate humility, which, according to Benedict, is more important than severe austerities . Departure from the world is understood, among other things, as the material independence of the monastery from the outside world, so the personal poverty of the monks should not mean the poverty of the monastery. The life of the monks is determined by worship, physical work, reading of the Holy Scriptures and the creations of the Church Fathers , but the main part of the prayers is determined in detail by the charter, and individual work is constrained to extremes: only a tried and tested anachore can rely on its strength.
Compared to other commandments, self-government provides a moderate path between individual zeal and template institutionalism; through this middle ground it was widely popular. Benedict was concerned about the needs of the monks in the monastic environment, namely, the questions of establishing the proper order to form an understanding of the family nature of man, as well as providing the spiritual father to support and strengthen the ascetic efforts of man and his spiritual growth, which is necessary for fulfilling his calling, deification .
The Benedictines adhered to the Statute of St. Benedict for fifteen centuries, so St. Benedict is sometimes considered the founder of Western monasticism. However, there is no evidence that Benedict intended to establish a religious order in the modern sense, and until the Late Middle Ages he was not mentioned as the founder of the Order of St. Benedict . Its charter is written as a guide for individual, autonomous communities, and to this day all Benedictine Houses (and communities) remain self-governing. The benefits are emphasis on autonomy, as well as the close connection between communities and a contemplative lifestyle. As a disadvantage, isolation from important events in neighboring communities is perceived.
The Benedictines , Cistercians , Trappists, and (in general terms and spirit) also Cartesians , who at the same time have their own special rules, follow the charter of St. Benedict.
72 Rules from the Constitution
- To love the Lord God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength.
- Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Do not kill.
- Do not indulge in fornication.
- Do not steal.
- Do not envy.
- Do not give false testimony.
- Respect all people.
- Do not do to others what we would not want ourselves.
- Rejecting oneself.
- Kill your flesh.
- Do not become attached to what is pleasant to the senses.
- Love the post.
- Facilitate the fate of the poor.
- To dress naked.
- Visit the sick.
- Bury the dead.
- Support those in trial.
- Comfort the sad.
- Avoid worldly morals.
- Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.
- Do not indulge in anger.
- Do not think of revenge.
- Do not store guile in the heart.
- Do not give a false peace.
- Do not leave mercy.
- Do not swear not to be an oath-breaker.
- To be a true heart, as well as a mouth.
- Do not give evil for evil.
- Do not tolerate untruth, but with patience endure the one that will be done to us.
- Love your enemies.
- Responding to a curse is not a curse, but a blessing.
- To suffer persecution for the truth.
- Do not be arrogant.
- Do not be addicted to wine.
- Do not be greedy for food.
- Do not be a lover of sleep.
- Do not be lazy.
- Do not grumble.
- Do not slander.
- To trust God.
- Attribute to God the good that you find in yourself.
- Always blame yourself for evil.
- Remember Doomsday .
- Fear of hell .
- With all the forces of the soul, strive for eternal life.
- Always remember death.
- Always monitor your actions.
- To be sure that God sees us everywhere.
- Breaking about Christ all the unkind thoughts as soon as they arise in the heart.
- And open them to an old man , experienced in spiritual matters.
- Keep the mouth of every evil word.
- Do not love verbosity.
- Do not speak idle words.
- Do not love too often and laugh out loud.
- Willing to listen to spiritual reading.
- Often indulge in prayer.
- Every day, in prayer with tears, confess to God past trespasses and continue to correct them.
- Do not fulfill the wishes of the flesh.
- Hate your will. Obey the instructions of the abbot in everything, even if - God forbid - he contradicts himself with deeds, remembering the covenant of the Lord: "What they say, do it, do not act on their deeds."
- Do not try to be known as saints before you become one.
- Every day, fulfill the Lord’s covenants with life.
- To love cleanliness.
- Avoid hate.
- Do not be jealous or succumb to envy.
- Do not love disputes.
- Avoid honors.
- Read the elders.
- To love the younger ones.
- Pray for the enemies, in the love of Christ.
- Before sunset, put up with those with whom the feud has divided us.
- Never despair of the mercy of God.
See also
- Latin charter