Today’s Reading from the Rule of Benedict

TODAY’S READING FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT Chapter 9: How Many Psalms Are to Be Said at the Night Office In winter time as defined above, there is first this verse to be said three times: “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.” To it is added Psalm 3 and [...]

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Today’s Reading from the Rule of Benedict

TODAY’S READING FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT Chapter 72: On the Good Zeal Which They Ought to Have Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from vices and leads to God and to life everlasting. This zeal, [...]

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Today’s Reading from the Rule

TODAY’S READING FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT Chapter 7: On Humility The tenth degree of humility is that he be not ready and quick to laugh, for it is written, “The fool lifts up his voice in laughter” (Eccles. 21:23).

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Obedience As an Act of Humility

The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ. + Rule of Benedict, Chapter 5 The self-giving of real obedience is very clear to Benedict. When we follow the voice of the ones who call us to higher service, we put [...]

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Battle for Purity: Obedience & Grace

We must, then, prepare our hearts and bodies for the battle of holy obedience to God’s instructions. What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Holy One to supply by the help of grace. Rule of Benedict, Prologue

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We Are Commended to Do Impossible Things, but All Is Possible in Christ

If it happens that difficult or impossible tasks are laid on a brother, let him nevertheless receive the order of the one in authority with all meekness and obedience. But if he sees that the weight of the burden altogether exceeds the limit of his strength, let him submit the reasons for his inability to [...]

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Today’s Reading from the Rule of Benedict

TODAY’S READING FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT Chapter 22: How the Sisters Are to Sleep Let each one sleep in a separate bed. Let them receive bedding suitable to their manner of life, according to the Abbess’s directions. If possible let all sleep in one place; but if the number does not allow this, let [...]

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Today’s Reading from the Rule of Benedict

TODAY’S READING FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT Chapter 18: In What Order the Psalms Are to Be Said At Terce, Sext and None on Monday let the nine remaining sections of Psalm 118 be said, three at each of these Hours. Psalm 118 having been completed, therefore, on two days, Sunday and Monday, let the [...]

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Today’s Reading from the Rule of Benedict

TODAY’S READING FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT Chapter 18: In What Order the Psalms Are to Be Said Let this verse be said: “Incline unto my aid, O God; O Lord, make haste to help me,” and the “Glory be to the Father” then the hymn proper to each Hour. Then at Prime on Sunday [...]

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Today’s Reading from the Rule of Benedict

TODAY’S READING FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT Chapter 17: How Many Psalms Are to Be Said at These Hours We have already arranged the order of the psalmody for the Night and Morning Offices; let us now provide for the remaining Hours. At Prime let three Psalms be said, separately and not under one “Glory [...]

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