Study the Holy Rule of St. Benedict

Introduction to Study the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict and Abbot Philip Lawrence’s accompanying commentary.

St. Benedict’s Rule for monastic living has been soul inspiring and formative for countless numbers of persons who have lived as monks, nuns, priests, deacons, teachers, parish workers, seekers of holiness, and so many others. It has been a guidebook on the path of Christian discipleship but also helpful to all people desiring to live a good life, one that contributes to our global community.

The Monastery of Christ in the Desert has had the inestimable advantage of the leadership of Father Abbot Philip Lawrence, OSB, for 40 years. He has been the “Father” of our community and responsible for assisting all those who have lived in our Monastery to find their vocation in life. This always involves the realization that any vocation to which we are called by God is one of service, love, and obedience to the Lord.

St. Benedict’s Rule seems in its first appearance to be rather simple to understand and follow. It is all that, of course, but looking at it with any kind of perceptive depth quickly reveals that so much more is present. St. Benedict has been honored as a spiritual guide par excellence for centuries and that stems from what is contained and obtained in his Rule. Therefore, Father Abbot Philip has done us the great service of writing an extensive commentary on every part of the Rule. He brings to this task his own intellectual development and most importantly, his own spiritual experience of facing and growing from the challenges encountered in any life that faithfully seeks God.

We are pleased to offer the texts of the Rule itself, accompanied by the commentary on those by Father Abbot Philip. May you receive from these the grace to grow ever closer to God and one another.

You can search the Study of St. Benedict’s Rule and Opus Dei by typing into the search box key words, phrases, names, scriptural citations, or the Rule’s Chapter numbers.

Study the Holy Rule of St. Benedict

"Let everyone that comes be received as Christ."

— The Rule of St. Benedict

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