A T
OPICAL ST. BENEDICTAs I study the Rule, I like to see all of what was said on a topic together in one spot without having to flip around. Over the course of time, I've collected the citations on a number of topics into tables. Taken together as a collection it makes a kind of "Topical St. Benedict". Obviously, this is the type of thing I find helpful, so I'd like to share it with anyone else who may like to look at things in the same way. So here it is:
Programs (St. Benedict’s Breviary)
A summary of RB 18
Table of Psalms (from RB 18)
Seniority/Rank/Exceptions Thereto
| Ref | Citation |
| 31:9 | 9He must show every care and concern for the sick, children, guests and poor, knowing for certain that he will be held accountable for all of them on the day of judgement. |
| 35:1-4 | 1The brothers should serve one another. Consequently, no one will be excused from kitchen service unless he is sick or engaged in some important business of the monastery, 2for such service increases reward and fosters love. 3Let those who are not strong have help so that they may serve without distress, 4and let everyone receive help as the size of the community or local conditions warrant. |
| 36 inclusive | 1Care of the sick must rank above
and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ, 2for he said,
"I was sick and you visited me," (Matt 25:36), 3and, "What
you did for one of these least brothers you did for me," (Matt
25:40). 4Let the sick on their part bear in mind that they are served out of
honor for God, and let them not by their excessive demands distress their brothers who
serve them. 5Still, sick brothers must be patiently borne with, because serving
them leads to a greater reward. 6Consequently, the abbot should be extremely
careful that they suffer no neglect.
7 Let a separate room be designated for the sick, and let them be served by an attendant who is God-fearing, attentive and concerned. 8The sick may take baths whenever it is advisable, but the healthy, and especially the young, should receive permission less readily. 9Moreover, to regain their strength, the sick who are very weak may eat meat, but when their health improves, they should all abstain from meat as usual.
10 The abbot must take the greatest care that cellarers and those who serve the sick do not neglect them, for the shortcomings of disciples are his responsibility. |
| 37 inclusive | 1Although human nature itself is inclined to be compassionate toward the old and the young, the authority of the rule should also provide for them. 2Since their lack of strength must always be taken into account, they should certainly not be required to follow the strictness of the rule with regard to food, 3but should be treated with kindly consideration and allowed to eat before the regular hours. |
| 38:10 | 10Because of holy Communion and because the fast may be too hard for him to bear, the brother who is reader for the week is to receive some diluted wine before he begins to read. |
| 39:2 | 2In this way, the person who may not be able to eat one kind of food may partake of the other. |
| 39:11 | 11Let everyone, except the sick who are very weak, abstain entirely from eating the meat of four-footed animals. |
| 40:3 | 3However, with due regard for the infirmities of the sick, we believe that a half bottle of wine a day is sufficient for each. |
| 42:4 | …Someone should read from the Conferences or the Lives of the Fathers or at any rate something else that will benefit the hearers, 4but not the Heptateuch or the Books of Kings, because it will not be good for those of weak understanding to hear these writings at that hour; they should be read at other times. |
| 48:9 | 9Yet, all things are to be done with moderation on account of the faint hearted. |
| 48:24-25 | 24Brothers who are sick or weak should be given a type of work or craft that will keep them busy without overwhelming them or driving them away. 25The abbot must take their infirmities into account. |
| 64:19 | 19Therefore, drawing on this and other examples of discretion, the mother of virtues, he must so arrange everything that the strong have something to yearn for and the weak nothing to run from. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 1:13 | 13Let us pass them by, then and with the help of the Lord, proceed to draw up a plan for the strong kind, the cenobites. |
| 4:78 | 78The workshop where we are to toil faithfully at all these tasks is the enclosure of the monastery and stability in the community. |
| 5:12-13 | 12They no longer live by their own judgment, giving in to their whims and appetites; rather they walk according to an other’s decisions and directions, choosing to live in monasteries and to have an abbot over them. 13Men of this resolve unquestionably conform to the saying of the Lord: "I have come not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me," (John 6:38). |
| 7:41 | 41Then, to show that we ought to be under a superior, it adds, "You have placed men over our heads," (Ps 65[66]:12). |
| 7:44 | 44The fifth step of humility is that a man does not conceal from his abbot any sinful thoughts entering his heart, or any wrongs committed in secret, but rather confesses them humbly. |
| 7:49 | 49The sixth step of humility is that a monk is content with the lowest and most menial treatment, and regards himself as a poor and worthless workman in whatever task he is given… |
| 7:55 | 55The eighth step of humility is that a monk does only what is endorsed by the common rule of the monastery and the example set by his superiors. |
| 73:1 | 1The reason we have written this rule is that, by observing monasteries, we can show that we have some degree of virtue and the beginnings of monastic life. |
| 73:6-7 | 6For observant and obedient monks, all these are nothing less than tools for the cultivation of virtues; 7but as for us, they make us blush for shame at being so slothful, so unobservant, so negligent. |
| 73:9 | 9Afer that, you can set out for the loftier summits of the teaching and virtues we mentioned above, and under God’s protection you will reach them. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 3:7 | 7Accordingly in every instance, all are to follow the teaching of the rule, and no one shall rashly deviate from it. |
| 18:22-23 | 22Above all else we urge that if anyone finds this distribution of the psalms unsatisfactory, he should arrange whatever he judges better, 23provided that the full complement of one hundred and fifty psalms is by all means carefully maintained every week, and that the series begins anew each Sunday at Vigils. |
| 40:5 | 5The superior will determine when
local conditions, work or the summer heat indicates the need for a greater amount.
|
| 41:2 | 2Beginning with Pentecost and continuing through out the summer, the monks fast until mid-afternoon on Wednesday and Friday, unless they are working in the fields or the summer heat is oppressive. |
| 41:4-5 | 4Indeed, the abbot may decide that they should continue to eat dinner at noon every day if they have work in the fields or if the summer heat remains extreme. 5Similarly, he should so regulate and arrange all matters that souls may be saved and the brothers may go about their activities without justifiable grumbling. |
| 47:1 | 1It is the abbot’s care to announce, day and night, the hour for the Work of God. He may do so personally or delegate the responsibility to a conscientious brother, so that everything may be done at the proper time. |
| 55:1-3 | 1The clothing distributed to the brothers should vary according to local conditions and climate, 2because more is needed in cold regions and less in warmer. 3This is left to the abbot’s discretion. |
| 65:14-15 | 14But if local conditions call for it, or the community makes a reasonable and humble request, and the abbot judges it best, 15then let him, with the advice of God-fearing brothers, choose the man he wants and himself make him his prior. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 7:15-16 | 35The fourth step of humility is that in this obedience under difficult, unfavorable, or even unjust conditions, his heart quietly embraces suffering 36and endures it without weakening or seeking escape. |
| 36:5 | 5Still, sick brothers must be patiently borne with, because serving them leads to a greater reward. |
| 58:3-4 | 3Therefore, if someone comes and keeps knocking at the door, and if at the end of four or five days he has shown himself patient in bearing his harsh treatment and difficulty of entry, and has persisted in his request, 4then he should be allowed to enter and stay in the guest quarters for a few days. |
| 58:9-16 | 9If he promises perseverance in his stability, then after two months have elapsed let this rule be read straight through to him, 10and let him be told: "This is the law under which you are choosing to serve. If you can keep it, come in. If not, feel free to leave." 11If he still stands firm, he is to be taken back to the novitiate, and again thoroughly tested in patience. 12After six months have passed, the rule is to be read to him, so that he may know what he is entering. 13If once more he stands firm, let four months go by, and then read this rule to him again. 14If after due reflection he promises to observe everything and to obey every command given him, let him then be received into the community. 15But he must be well aware that, as the law of the rule establishes, form this day he is no longer free to leave the monastery, 16nor to shake form his neck the yoke of the rule which, in the course of so prolonged a period of reflection, he was free either to reject or to accept. |
| 60:2-3 | 2However, if he is fully persistent in his request, he must recognize that he will have to observe the full discipline of the rule 3without any mitigation, knowing that it is written, "Friend, what have you come for," (Matt 26:50)? |
| 68 inclusive | 1A brother may be assigned a burdensome task or something he cannot do. If so, he should, with complete gentleness and obedience, accept the order given him. 2Should he see, however that the weight of the burden is altogether too much for his strength, then he should choose the appropriate moment and explain patiently to his superior the reasons why he cannot perform the task. 3This he ought to do without pride, obstinacy or refusal. 4If after the explanation the superior is still determined to hold to his original order, then the junior must recognize that this is best for him. 5Trusting in God’s help, he must in love obey. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 4:39 | 39Do not grumble 40or speak ill of others. |
| 5:14 | 14This very obedience, however, will be acceptable to God and agreeable to men only if compliance with what is commanded is not cringing or sluggish or half-hearted, but free from any grumbling or any reaction of unwillingness. |
| 5:17-19 | 17If a disciple obeys grudgingly and grumbles, not only aloud but also in his heart, 18then, even though he carries out the order, his action will not be accepted with favor by God, who sees that he is grumbling in his heart. 19He will have no reward for service of this kind; on the contrary, he will incur punishment for grumbling, unless he changes for the better and makes amends. |
| 23:1 | 1If a brother is found to be stubborn or disobedient or proud, if he grumbles or in anyway despises the holy rule and defies the orders of his seniors, 2he should be warned twice privately by the seniors in accord with our Lord’s injunction. |
| 34:6-7 | 6First and foremost, there must be no word or sign of the evil of grumbling, no manifestation of it for any reason at all. 7If, however anyone is caught grumbling, let him undergo more severe discipline. |
| 35:12-13 | 12An hour before mealtime, the kitchen workers of the week should each receive a drink and some bread over and above the regular portion, 13so that at mealtime, they may serve their brothers without grumbling or hardship. |
| 40:8-9 | 8However, where local circumstances dictate an amount much less than what is stipulated above, or even none at all, those who live there should bless God and not grumble. 9Above all else we admonish them to refrain from grumbling. |
| 41:5 | 5Similarly, he should so regulate and arrange all matters that souls may be saved and the brothers may go about their activities without justifiable grumbling. |
| 53:18 | 18Additional help should be available when needed, so that they can perform this service without grumbling. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 4:55 | 55Listen readily to holy reading… |
| 48:1 | 1Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the brothers should have specified periods for manual labor as well as for prayerful reading. |
| 48:4-5 | 4From the fourth hour until the time of Sext, they will devote themselves to reading. 5But after Sext and their meal, they may rest on their beds in complete silence; should a brother wish to read privately, let him do so, but without disturbing the others. |
| 48:10 | 10From the first of October to the beginning of Lent, the bothers ought to devote themselves to reading until the end of the second hour. |
| 48:13 | 13Then after their meal they will devote themselves to their reading or the psalms. |
| 48:14-20 | 14During the days of Lent, they
should be free in the morning to read until the third hour, after which they will work at
their assigned tasks until the end of the tenth hour. 15During this time of
Lent each one is to receive a book from the library, and is to read the whole of it
straight through. 16These books are to be distributed at the beginning of Lent.
17 Above all, one or two seniors must surely be deputed to make the rounds of the monastery while the brothers are reading. 18Their duty is to see that no brother is so apathetic as to waste time or engage in idle talk to the neglect of his reading, and so not only harm himself but also distract others. 19If such a monk is found – God forbid – he should be reproved a first and a second time. 20If he does not amend, he must be subjected to the punishment of the rule as a warning to others. |
| 48:22 | 22On Sunday all are to be engaged in reading except those who have been assigned various duties. |
| 49:4 | 4This we can do in a fitting manner by refusing to indulge evil habits and by devoting ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 4:51-54 | 51Guard your lips from harmful or deceptive speech 53and speak no foolish chatter, nothing just to provoke laughter; 54do not love immoderate or boisterous laughter. |
| 6:8 | 8We absolutely condemn in all places any vulgarity and gossip and talk leading to laughter, and we do not permit a disciple to engage in words of that kind. |
| 7:59-60 | 59The tenth step of humility is
that he is not given to ready laughter, for it is written, "Only a fool raises his voice in laughter," (Sir
21:23).
60 The eleventh step of humility is that a monk speaks gently and without laughter, seriously and with becoming modesty, briefly and reasonably, but without raising his voice, 61as it is written, "A wise man is known by his few words." |
| 43:1-2 | 1On hearing the signal for an hour of the divine office, the monk will immediately set aside what he has in hand and go with utmost speed, 2yet with gravity and without giving occasion for frivolity. |
| Ref | Citation |
| Prol:2-3 | 2The labor of obedience will bring you back to Him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience. 3This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord. |
| 4:61 | 61Obey the orders of the abbot unreservedly, even if his own conduct — which God forbid — be at odds with what he says. Remember the teaching of the Lord: Do, "what they say, not what they do," (Matt 23:3). |
| 5 inclusive | 1The first step of humility is
unhesitating obedience, 2which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ
above all. 3Because of the holy service they have professed, or because of
dread of hell and for the glory of everlasting life, 4they carry out the
superior’s order as promptly as if the command came from God himself. 5The
Lord says of men like this: "No sooner did he
hear than he obeyed me," (Ps 17[18]: 45); 6again, he
tells teachers, "Whoever listens to you,
listens to me," (Luke 10:16). 7Such people as these
immediately put aside their own concerns, abandon their own will, 8and lay down
whatever they have in hand leaving it unfinished. With the ready step of obedience, they
follow the voice of authority in their actions. 9Almost at the same moment,
then, as the master gives the instruction the disciple quickly puts it into practice in
the fear of God; and both actions together are swiftly completed as one. 10 It is love that impels them to pursue everlasting life; 11therefore, they are eager to take the narrow road of which the Lord says, "Narrow is the road that leads to life," (Matt 7:14). 12They no longer live by their own judgment, giving in to their whims and appetites; rather they walk according to an other’s decisions and directions, choosing to live in monasteries and to have an abbot over them. 13Men of this resolve unquestionably conform to the saying of the Lord: "I have come not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me," (John 6:38).14 This very obedience, however, will be acceptable to God and agreeable to men only if compliance with what is commanded is not cringing or sluggish or half-hearted, but free from any grumbling or any reaction of unwillingness. 15For the obedience shown to superiors is given to God, as he himself said: "Whoever listens to you, listens to me," (Luke 10:16). 16Furthermore, the disciples’ obedience must be given gladly, for, "God loves a cheerful giver," (2 Cor 9:7). 17If a disciple obeys grudgingly and grumbles, not only aloud but also in his heart, 18then, even though he carries out the order, his action will not be accepted with favor by God, who sees that he is grumbling in his heart. 19He will have no reward for service of this kind; on the contrary, he will incur punishment for grumbling, unless he changes for the better and makes amends. |
| 7:34 | 34The third step of humility is that a man submits to his superior in all obedience for the love of God, imitating the Lord of whom the Apostle says, "He became obedient even to death," (Phil 2:8). |
| 31:3-5 | 3He will take care of everything, 4but will do nothing without an order from the abbot. 5Let him keep to his orders. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 39:6-9 | 6Should it happen that the work is heavier than usual, the abbot may decide — and he will have the authority — to grant something additional, provided that it is appropriate, 7and that above all over indulgence is avoided, lest a monk experience indigestion. 8For nothing is so inconsistent with the life of any Christian as overindulgence. 9Our Lord says, "Take care that your hearts are not weighted down with overindulgence," (Luke 21:34). |
| 41:2 | 2Beginning with Pentecost and continuing through out the summer, the monks fast until mid-afternoon on Wednesday and Friday, unless they are working in the fields or the summer heat is oppressive. |
| 41:5 | 5Similarly, he should so regulate and arrange all matters that souls may be saved and the brothers may go about their activities without justifiable grumbling. |
| 42:4 | …Someone should read from the Conferences or the Lives of the Fathers or at any rate something else that will benefit the hearers, 4but not the Heptateuch or the Books of Kings, because it will not be good for those of weak understanding to hear these writings at that hour; they should be read at other times. |
| 58:1-8 | 1Do not grant newcomers to the
monastic life an easy entry, 2but, as the Apostle says, "Test the spirits to see if they are from God," (1 John 4:1). 3Therefore, if someone comes and keeps knocking
at the door, and if at the end of four or five days he has shown himself patient in
bearing his harsh treatment and difficulty of entry, and has persisted in his request, 4then
he should be allowed to enter and stay in the guest quarters for a few days. 5After
that, he should live in the novitiate, where the novices study, eat and sleep.
6 A senior chosen for his skill in winning souls should be appointed to look after them with careful attention. 7The concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God and whether he shows eagerness for the Work of God, for obedience and for trials. 8The novice should be clearly told all the hardships and difficulties that will lead him to God. |
| 64:12 | 12When he must punish them, he should use prudence and avoid extremes; otherwise, by rubbing too hard to remove the rust, he may break the vessel. |
Seniority/Rank/Exceptions Thereto
| Ref | Citation |
| 2:18-21 | 18A man born free is not be given higher rank than a slave who becomes a monk, except for some other good reason. 19But the abbot is free, if he sees fit, to change anyone’s rank as justice demands. Ordinarily, everyone is to keep to his regular place, 20because, "whether slave or free, we are all one in Christ," (Gal 3:28; Eph 6:8) and share alike in bearing arms in the service of the one Lord, for, "God shows no partiality among persons," (Rom 2:11). 21Only in this are we distinguished in his sight: if we are found better than others in good works and in humility. |
| 60:6-7 | 6Whenever there is question of an appointment or of any other business in the monastery, 7he takes the place that corresponds to the date of his entry into the community, and not that granted him out of respect for his priesthood. |
| 61:11-12 | 11Further, the abbot may set such a man in a somewhat higher place in the community, if he sees that he deserves it. 12In fact, whether it is a monk or someone in the priestly or clerical orders mentioned above, the abbot has the power to set any of them above the place that corresponds to the date of his entry, if he sees that his life warrants it. |
| 62:5-6 | 5He will always take the place that corresponds to the date of his entry into the monastery, 6except in his duties at the altar, or unless the whole community chooses and the abbot wishes to give him a higher place for the goodness of his life. |
| 63 inclusive | 1The monks keep their rank in the
monastery according to the date of their entry, the virtue of their lives, and the
decision of the abbot. 2The abbot is not to disturb the flock entrusted to him
nor make any unjust arrangements, as though he had the power to do whatever he wished. 3He
must constantly reflect that he will have to give God an account of all his decisions and
actions. 4Therefore, when the monks come for the kiss of peace and for
Communion, when they lead psalms or stand in choir, they do so in the order decided by the
abbot or already existing among them. 5Absolutely nowhere shall age
automatically determine rank. 6Remember that Samuel and Daniel were still boys
when they judged their elders (1 Sam 3; Dan 13:44-62). 7Therefore, apart from
those mentioned above whom the abbot has for some overriding consideration promoted, or
for a specific reason demoted, all the rest should keep to the order of their entry. 8For
example, someone who came to the monastery at the second hour of the day must recognize
that he is junior to someone who came at the first hour, regardless of age or distinction.
9Boys, however, are to be disciplined in everything by everyone.
10 The younger monks, then, must respect their seniors, and the seniors must love all their juniors. 11When they address one another, no one should be allowed to do so simply by name; 12rather, the seniors call the younger monks "brother" and the younger monks call their seniors "nonnus", which is translated as "venerable father." 13But the abbot, because we believe that he holds the place of Christ, is to be called "lord" and "abbot," not for any claim of his own, but out of honor and love for Christ. 14He, for his part, must reflect on this, and in his behavior show himself worthy of such honor.
15 Wherever brothers meet, the junior asks his senior for a blessing. 16When an older monk comes by, the younger rises and offers him a seat, and does not presume to sit down unless the older bids him. 17In this way, they do what the words of Scripture say, "They should each try to be the first to show respect to the other," (Rom 12:10).
18 In the oratory and at table, small boys and youths are kept in rank and under discipline. 19Outside or anywhere else, they should be supervised and controlled until they are old enough to be responsible. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 4:78 | 78The workshop where we are to toil faithfully at all these tasks is the enclosure of the monastery and stability in the community. |
| 60:8-9 | 8Any clerics who similarly wish to join the community should be ranked somewhere in the middle, 9but only if they, too, promise to keep the rule and observe stability. |
| 61:5 | 5If after a while he wishes to remain and bind himself to stability, he should not be refused this wish, especially as there was time enough, while he was a guest, to judge his character. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 31:1 | s cellarer of the monastery, there should be chosen from the community someone who is wise, mature in conduct, temperate, not an excessive eater, not proud, excitable, offensive, dilatory or wasteful… |
| 31:12 | 12He should not be prone to greed, nor be wasteful and extravagant with the goods of the monastery, but should do everything with moderation and according to the abbot’s orders. |
| 36:4 | 4Let the sick on their part bear in mind that they are served out of honor for God, and let them not by their excessive demands distress their brothers who serve them. |
| 39:7-9 | 7and that above all over indulgence is avoided, lest a monk experience indigestion. 8For nothing is so inconsistent with the life of any Christian as overindulgence. 9Our Lord says, "Take care that your hearts are not weighted down with overindulgence," (Luke 21:34). |
| 39:10 | 10Young boys should not receive the same amount as their elders, but less, since in all matters frugality is the rule. |
| 40:3 | 3However, with due regard for the infirmities of the sick, we believe that a half bottle of wine a day is sufficient for each. |
| 40:6-8 | 6We read that monks should not
drink wine at all, but since the monks of our day cannot be convinced of this, let us at
least agree to drink moderately, and not to the point of excess, 7for, "wine makes even wise men go astray,"
(Sir 19:2).
8 However, where local circumstances dictate an amount much less than what is stipulated above, or even none at all, those who live there should bless God and not grumble. |
| 64:9 | 9He ought, therefore, to be learned in divine law, so that he has a treasury of knowledge from which he can, "bring out what is new and what is old," (Matt 13:52). He must be chaste, temperate and merciful. |
| Ref | Citation |
| 48:1 | 1Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the brothers should have specified periods for manual labor as well as for prayerful reading. |
| 48:3 | 3From Easter to the first of October, they will spend their mornings after Prime till about the fourth hour at whatever work needs to be done. |
| 48:7-8 | 7They must not become distressed if local conditions or their poverty should force them to do the harvesting themselves. 8When they live by the labor of their hands, as our fathers and the apostles did, then they are really monks. |
| 48:11 | 11At this time Terce is said and they are to work at their assigned tasks until None. |
