Rule 
Articles and posts specifically teaching the Rule of St. Benedict. Articles divided into two categories: Benedictine Wisdom, the teaching of the Benedictine Fathers; and Instruction, teaching by more modern day Benedictine scholars.
Does not love make amends?
I will flee from the sight of the anger of the Lord and go to a place of refuge, to that zeal of mercy which burns sweetly and wholly purifies. Does not love make amends? Truly it does powerfully. I have read that it covers a multitude of sins. But I would ask this: is… Read More ›
The love of the Lord for each of us
The Lord of the universe has prevented us, visited us, assisted us; that sovereign majesty has willed to die that we might live, willed to serve that we might reign, willed to suffer exile that we might be brought home, willed to stoop to the meanest services that he might set us over the works… Read More ›
Little Motifications are the most important
Louis de Montfort points out that interior mortifications are more important than exterior ones, even though the latter are not to be disregarded. The conquest of selfishness, or self-will, is the greatest challenge. Even the good results of difficult practices of mortification may be spoiled by self-seeking. Hence he recommends that all exterior acts of… Read More ›
The Lord must guide our hearts
. . . of this much we must be sure. Never by our sole diligence or zeal nor by our most tireless efforts can we reach perfection. Human zeal is not enough to win the sublime rewards of blessedness. The Lord must be there to help us and to guide our hearts toward what is… Read More ›
The goal of fasting
The goal of fasting is inner unity. This means hearing but not with the ear; hearing, but not with the understanding; it is hearing with the spirit, with your whole being. . . . The hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty, to the ear, or to the mind. Hence, it… Read More ›
Blessed candles have a mysterious role against darkness
It is a time of darkness. It is a time of light. As evil surges around us, the illuminations of God intensify. But it does no good to deny the evil. Do things feel strange to you right now? Does it seem like there is a “lull” — a feeling of aridity, or vacancy; the… Read More ›
If today you hear his voice….
Saint Benedict takes his cue from Psalm 95(94), which he prescribed to be sung at the beginning of the first liturgical office of the day. Its message is clear: “Today if you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” As we have seen, God’s light shines upon us every day and God’s call invites us… Read More ›
The Gate of Heaven is Everywhere
We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and God is shining through it all the time. God manifests Himself everywhere, in everything – in people and in things and in nature and in events . . . The only thing is we don’t see it. . . . I have no program… Read More ›
We are not so much called to do as to become
The work to which God directs us is not an external task waiting for someone to come along and do it. It is not as though God has a roster of duties with a name placed beside each one of them. The work God gives us is not primarily determined by external factors. The work… Read More ›
The Soul remains unshaken
Unlikeness means, not that the likeness has been destroyed, but that it has been concealed by something else which has been laid over it. The soul has not in fact put off her original form but has put on one foreign to her. The latter is an addition; the former has not been lost. This… Read More ›