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Rule of St. Benedict

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[[Image:Benedict.JPG|right|thumb|250px|Benedict of Nursia]]
The '''Rule of Benedict''' is a rule for life in a [[cenobitic]] [[monastery]]. Written in the sixth century by St. [[Benedict of Nursia]], the Rule of St. Benedict proved to be the most influential guide of Western [[monasticism]] until after the Great Schism, perhaps the most influential guide ever in the West. Followed continuously since the time of St. Benedict, this rule is generally currently used by Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran monasteries in . Designed for [[monk]]s sharing the common life, the WestRule is renowned for its spiritual riches, gentleness, and balance.
Written in the sixth century by St[http://books.google. Benedict com/books?id=J6bxIhNMRn0C&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=athos+monastery+benedictine&source=web&ots=gbRW7eL_-X&sig=_vf05KnEpCU2Lz0-CjytqvpEa7c&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result The Latin Monastery of Nursia, Amalfi] observed the Rule of St. Benedict proved to be the most influential guide of Western on [[monasticismMount Athos]] until after 1287; in the Great Schismeleventh century, perhaps the most influential guide ever this ruling Benedictine monastery was ranked fifth in the WestHoly Mountain's hierarchy. Followed continuously since Various other Orthodox have kept the Rule in recent times, including the time monks of St. BenedictLuke's Priory under the Antiochian [[Western Rite Vicariate]]. Presently, this rule is currently used by Roman Catholicthe [[Christ the Savior Monastery (Hamilton, Ontario)|Christ the Savior Monastery]] (ROCOR) in Hamilton, OrthodoxOntario, AnglicanCanada, and Lutheran monasteries(sometimes known as "Christminster") follows the Benedictine monastic rule. Designed for Likewise, among the Old Calendarists, the [[monk]]s sharing The Abbey of the common lifeHoly Name (West Milford, New Jersey)|Abbey of the Rule is renowned for Holy Name ]]and its spiritual riches, gentleness, and balancevarious dependencies.
==Contents==
The [[saint]] described his rule as "a school of the Lord's service, in which we hope to introduce nothing harsh or burdensome." In its 73 chapters, he prescribes a full way of life for cenobitic monks to "share in the sufferings of Christ, and be found worthy to be coheirs with Him of His kingdom." In addition to the moral and spiritual aspects of common life, he describes the proper attributes of monks and the ruling [[Abbot]], the proper form of Divine Office, and even the appropriate way to greet visitors.
The Rule states it is intended for beginners, and recommends monks read the Monastic Rule of [[Basil the Great|St. Basil]], the the ''Institutes'' and ''Conferences'' of [[John Cassian|St. John Cassian]], as well as the Bible and the lives of the saints, as they advance in their asceticism.
===Habit===
The Rule of St. Benedict does not stipulate a particular colour for the monastic habit, and the habit of unbleached, undyed, wool has not been unknown among Benedictines. However, the colour most associated with the Benedictine tradition is black, (hence the name "black monk" used to refer to a Benedictine monk), and that is the colour currently worn by Orthodox Benedictines.
The Rule first layer of St. Benedict has been kept in continual obedience by monks since the time it was written. [http://books.google.com/books?id=J6bxIhNMRn0C&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=athos+monastery+benedictine&source=web&ots=gbRW7eL_-X&sig=_vf05KnEpCU2Lz0-CjytqvpEa7c&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result The Latin Monastery of Amalfi] observed habit is the Rule on [[Mount Athostunic]] until 1287; in the eleventh century, this ruling Benedictine monastery was ranked fifth which is secured in the Holy Mountain's hierarchyplace by a belt. Various other Orthodox have kept This is the Rule in recent times, including the monks form of habit worn by oblates during their period of St. Luke's Priory under the Antiochian [[Western Rite Vicariatenovitiate]]. Presently, The next layer is the monastic [[Christ the Savior Monastery (Hamiltonscapular]], Ontario)|Christ which is a tabard-like garment worn over the Savior Monastery]] (ROCOR) in Hamiltontunic. The tunic, Ontariobelt, Canadaand scapular, (sometimes known as "Christminster"with a head-veil for women) follows , form the complete habit worn by oblates while in the Benedictine monastic ruleenclosure and by monastics during the nNovitiate. Likewise Outside of the monastery, among the Old Calendarists, oblates simply wear a reduced scapular and the [[The Abbey of Saint Benedict Medal]] under civilian clothing. When the Holy Name (West Milfordmonastic makes his solemn profession, New Jersey)|Abbey of he is tonsured and invested with the Holy Name [[cowl]]and its various dependencies.
Monastics and oblates alike, upon their repose, are buried in the habit proper to their order. ==External LinksOrthodox Benedictines today== The Benedictine tradition was largely lost to the Orthodox Church until the 20th century, when a revival was seen, encouraged by the efforts to restore the [[Western Rite]] to Orthodoxy which began in the 19th century. In 1962, under the leadership of its abbot, Dom Augustine (Whitfield), the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Royal, which had been an Old Catholic monastic community since its foundation in 1910, was received into the Moscow Patriarchal [[Russian Orthodox Church]] by Bishop Dositheus (Ivanchenko) of New York. It was later received into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, in 1975, by Archbishop Nikon (Rkitzsky). Mount Royal continued up until 2010, finally ceasing with the repose of Abbot Augustine. In 1993, Bishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Manhattan (now Metropolitan Hilarion, First [[Hierarch]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]]) blessed the founding of a new Benedictine monastery under its abbot, Dom James (Deschene), the former Prior of Mount Royal. Christ the Saviour Monastery (Christminster) today runs an oblate programme and seeks to make modest provision for the formation of clergy within the [[Western Rite Orthodoxy|Western Rite]] of the Orthodox Church, a provision lacking in most Orthodox seminaries. It also publishes music and [[liturgical book]]s to enhance the offering of the Western Rite Orthodox [[liturgy]]. In 1997, Hilarion (Kapral), then Archbishop of Sydney, received into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia the monastery of Saint Petroc in Tasmania, Australia. This monastic community had been formed as a [[Continuing Anglican]] monastery in 1992 under its superior, Hieromonk Michael (Mansbridge-Wood). While it is not a Benedictine foundation it did have a Benedictine presence attached to it in the form of the Holyrood hermitage in Florida, which has since become an independent monastic hermitage under Abbot David (Pierce). ===Communities===There are currently at least five Benedictine monastic houses within the Orthodox Church, namely Our Lady of Mount Royal, under Abbot Augustine (Whitfield); the [[Christ the Savior Monastery (Hamilton, Ontario)|Christ the Saviour Monastery]] (or Christminster) is a Benedictine monastery of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] and is currently under Abbot James (Deschene); and the Abbey of the Holy Name with its daughter house of St John the Theologian. In addition, an oblate programme exists at [http://www.kansasmonksrussianorthodoxoklahoma.orgSaint Benedict Russian Orthodox Church] in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. All of these houses and the parish in Oklahoma City are either under the jurisdiction of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] or the [http://RuleOfStBenedictwww.orthodoxchristians.html The Rule eu/ Holy Synod of StMilan]. Benedict Within the United States of America, the [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America]], while having no monastic houses, does have a number of parishes that run an oblate programme. There are currently no female Benedictine monastic houses in the Orthodox Church. ==Oblature==
[http://www.christminster.org Christ The word ''oblate'' derives from the Savior Monastery]Latin ''oblatus'', a Benedictine monastery under the which means "one offered". [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia|Russian Orthodox Church Outside Oblates of RussiaSaint Benedict]]offer themselves to God in much the same way that monks and nuns do, except that they do not take monastic vows or necessarily live within the monastic enclosure. Rather, they make a commitment to God, in the presence of the monastic community (or the parish community, depending on circumstances) to strive to live according to the Rule of St Benedict as adapted to suit their own life situations. Usually, the rule is adapted according to the individual spiritual and practical needs of each oblate by the abbot or oblate master of the monastery to which he or she is to retain a bond of practical support and spiritual obedience.
Oblates may be male or female, celibate or married. They are not [[http://holynameabbeytonsure]]d as monastics, and, unlike monastic vows, their oblation may be revoked at any time.org Abbey Out of the Holy Name]necessity, Antiochian oblates are not usually attached to a Benedictine monastery , (except for those who are under the [[Holy Synod direction of Milan | Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and Christminster), as there are currently no Benedictine monasteries in that jurisdiction. However, the oblature operates on the Americas]]parish level.
==External Links==
*[[w:Order of Saint Benedict (Orthodox)|Order of Saint Benedict]] on Wikipedia
*[http://www.kansasmonks.org/RuleOfStBenedict.html The Rule of St. Benedict]
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/liturgics/bolshakoff_power_of_prayer.htm Orthodox Research Institute article] - an article about the now defunct, Benedictine d’Alleray Priory of Paris
*[http://www.christminster.org/ Christ the Saviour Monastery] - A male Benedictine community in Hamilton, ON, Canada (also known as ''Christminster'')
*[http://www.westernorthodox.ca The Oratory of Our Lady of Glastonbury] - the monastery chapel of Christminster
*[http://holynameabbey.org Abbey of the Holy Name], a Benedictine monastery under the [[Holy Synod of Milan | Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of Western Europe and the Americas]].
*[http://paruchia.blogspot.com/2006/03/monastic-oblates-brief-overview_29.html Monastic Oblates: A Brief Overview] - an article by Dom James (Deschene) on the Benedictine Oblature
*[http://www.christminster.org/oblates.htm Oblate Observances] - detailing the Observances of the Oblates of Christminster
*[http://orthodoxoblates.wordpress.com/ Another site with aids for living the oblate life]
*[http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/Liturgy/Amalfion%20Oct%202002.pdf Amalfion (.pdf)] - An essay on the Benedictine monastery of Mount Athos
*[http://www.stmichaelwhittier.org/resources/osboff7.pdf Offices and Prayers of the Oblates of St Benedict (.pdf)] - A collection of services and prayers used by Benedictine Oblates under the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America
*[http://www.stcolumbachurch.org/benedictine_oblates.html St Columba Orthodox Church] - detailing the constitution and guidelines of the Antiochian Oblate programme
*[http://saintlaurenceosb.org/index.html The Benedictine Fellowship of St Laurence]
*[http://www.theorthodoxchurch.org/documents/The%20Western%20Orthodox%20Liturgy%20-%20Order%20for%20the%20Celebration%20-%20Restored.pdf The Mass of St Gregory the Great (.pdf)] - The Benedictine Use of Mount Royal
*[http://www.theorthodoxchurch.org/documents/Western%20Orthodox%20Liturgy%20-%20Restored.pdf Directions for the Mass of St Gregory (.pdf)] - for use in conjunction with the above
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[[category: Orthodox spirituality series]]
[[category: Western Rite]]

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