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St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

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Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#71

Post by mtnGoat »

jonah wrote: post #19
jawns wrote: post #6

"We read, it is true, that wine is by no means a drink for monks; but since the monks of our day cannot be persuaded of this, let us at least agree to drink sparingly and not to satiety, because 'wine makes even the wise fall away.'" I'm a Catholic, and this is the rule that amuses me the most. The monks were willing to give up most material possessions and submit to a life of poverty, obedience, and sexual abstinenc…

I've always liked Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton's take: “Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable. Never drink when you are wretched without it, or you will be like the grey-faced gin-drinker in the slum; but drink when you would be happy without it, and you will be like the laughing peasant of Italy. Never drink because you need it, for this is rational drinking, and the way to death and he…

Wow, as someone who spent a handful of years drinking like a fish... I can attest, there is some very strong truth in that paragraph.

I agree completely, wish I would have learned it sooner.

Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#72

Post by hodgesrm »

jackweirdy wrote: post #53
bgrainger wrote: post #35

Chapter 4 was used as the SQLite Code of Conduct until there was an uproar on social media: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18273530

It seems it still is: https://sqlite.org/codeofethics.html

Thank you both for pointing this out. I was unaware of this rule.

Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#73

Post by jkingsbery »

pge wrote: post #64
copperwater69 wrote: post #4

I can't see anything about celibacy

If I remember correctly, the ban against marriage came after the monasteries were well established. The monasteries were some of the largest estates in medieval Europe, and there was a fear that they would become dynasties that challenged the lords (or became poweful in their own right which could challenge the church hierarchy). The marriage prohibition kept the church in control of the monasteries and kept the rela…

I think you are mistaken in some details.

Monasteries from pretty early on required celibacy. According to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_celibacy_in_the_Cat..., priests did get married until the 12th century (even then, some say there was an unenforced law rule on the books saying that wasn't supposed to happen) .

While there were some theological and worldly reasons for the change, competition with lords wasn't one, and doesn't make a lot of sense. Religious communities were largely populated by the children of the nobles, and nobles gave to monasteries. (And again, wouldn't apply, since only non-monastic priests were married.)

Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#74

Post by lionsdan »

jxramos wrote: post #66

Does anyone know if there's something on par with Standard Ebooks quality and "remastering scrutiny" with a focus for old religious books like the above? > Major religious texts from modern world religions, like the Bible or the Koran, will not be accepted. Texts about religion will usually be accepted. Texts from historical religious movements that were culturally influential but are now defunct, or are otherwise no…

The Christian Classics Ethereal Library (https://ccel.org) versions are pretty decent and in a variety of formats.

Rule of St. Benedict is at https://ccel.org/ccel/benedict/rule/rule

Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#76

Post by Thorentis »

galaxyLogic wrote: post #49
christophilus wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I spent some time discerning as a Trappist, and now have a family. I’ve found the lack of silence to be the biggest challenge. How is your prayer life as a parent?

Trappists make great beer right? It is strong beer and gets your head messed up. I've often wondered how such good religious folks would become producers of alcoholic drinks. I assume they didn't drink themselves, doesn't go well with meditation I assume. So are they more like thinking "Let the sinners drink this since they want, and it will pay for the rent of our meditation chambers?"

There is no issue with alcohol in Catholicism. Indeed, some during the middle ages would live off beer alone during Lent, when they would abstain from food entirely. It is simply a question of moderation. There are many medevial images of monks drinking.

"In Catholicsm, the Pint, the Pipe, and the Cross can all fit together." ~ GK Chesterton.

Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#77

Post by Thorentis »

geerlingguy wrote: post #65
jkepler wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazing how form and freedom aren't antithetical, but are actually part and parcel of true liberty.

It's a strange paradox, but one that I've found time and again; 'liberty' to do anything anytime can be much more restrictive than 'freedom' to choose one thing and then move on.

It is very saddening to see "modern" and "progressive" thinkers promote the idea of choice and freedom, while condemning those that choose particular lifestyles (monks, housewives, etc). Some of the happiest people in the world are the ones that choose a simple yet rewarding lifestyle. The unhappy ones, as I have invariably found, are those that are never happy with the choices of others.

Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#78

Post by bodegajed »

jchallis wrote: post #20

Atheist fan speaking up for Benedict and his rule. My education was entirely organized by Benedictine nuns who internalized this rule and lived it daily. The focus on the importance of daily discipline made a big impression on me. Like the military, see an organization make short term sacrifices for longer term objectives made a big impression on me and how I spend my time. Ora et labora.

Yeah the benedictine life is cool with me. I consider my self as non-religious and I follow some aspects of Asceticism like abstaining from eating meat and just content with simple pleasures like playing the guitar and doing arts. I also removed my self from social media. I always work and don't take holidays. I'm done with life based on consumerism

Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#79

Post by cognaitiv »

andredz wrote: post #68
zinekeller wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Info for those outside of Germany: https://cand.pglaf.org/germany/index.html

I had long assumed that Project Gutenberg was based in Germany; probably due to its namesake.

The project was started by Michael S. Hart in 1971 at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and is now hosted by ibiblio at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Re: St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries (516)

#80

Post by dodobirdlord »

baud147258 wrote: post #33
tenpies wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always considered it more of a reflection on practicality. There is going to be wine around the monastery, if only because it is necessary for Mass. Therefore, you cannot really ban wine, so are you really going to dedicate a group of monks to the sole task of cellar guard duty?

the amount of wine required for the mass isn't exactly the same as what would be drunk during meals, especially as, in monasteries, not all monks are priests. And even if wine wouldn't be banned, I think the wine would be stored under lock and key, if only to avoid consumption outside of meals

Benedict predated the shift in Catholic practice of only priests drinking from the chalice. In his time both priests and lay members would have needed wine.
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