Ancient Tradition

 Benedictines carry on a monastic tradition that stems from the origins of the Christian monastic movement in the late third century. They regard Saint Benedict as their founder and guide even though he did not establish a Benedictine Order as such. He wrote a Rule for his monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy and he foresaw that it could be used elsewhere. Monte Cassino was destroyed by the Lombards about A.D. 577 and was not reestablished until the middle of the eighth century. Meanwhile the Rule found its way to monasteries in England, Gaul, and elsewhere. At first it was one of a number of rules accepted by a particular monastery but later, especially through the promotional efforts of Charlemagne and his son Louis, it became the rule of choice for monasteries of Europe from the ninth century onwards.

 

Communities

The early medieval monasteries of Europe, those for men and women, followed the Rule of Benedict with local adaptations needed in different climes and cultures. They continued, however, the tradition of community life with its common prayer, reading, and work. Some of the monasteries were founded as centers of evangelization of peoples; others carried on a program of education, art and architecture, and the making of manuscripts. Many monasteries were centers of liturgy and learning in the midst of chaotic times and shifting kingdoms.

 

The Splendor of Cluny

Benedictine monasteries are often characterized as local institutions with a great deal of autonomy. In the Middle Ages they were often founded by the nobility as centers of prayer, communities that would pray for the people, especially the nobles themselves. The monasteries had little contact with each other though eventually some of them began to relate to each other for the sake of protection from bishops and nobles and for common discipline. The most famous association was that of Cluny, named for the abbey in Burgundy; this monastery was founded in 909/910 and grew to include numerous dependencies. Cluny reformed congregations of black monks, as they were called, in practically all parts of Europe. The abbot of Cluny was in effect the superior of all the dependent monasteries though he administered the multitude of abbeys through appointed priors. Cluny excelled in the splendor and length of its liturgy, so much so that its monks had little time for manual labor or reading.

 

Medieval Twilight

The Benedictine monasteries waned at the end of the twelfth century, about the time the Church witnessed the rise of the "modern" orders of Franciscans and Dominicans. The Benedictines, though in decline in members and discipline, continued their round of monastic life but at times without their properly constituted head. Not a few monasteries were burdened by a commendatory abbot, a person who was appointed by the pope or a nobleman to oversee and to protect the goods of the monastery. Often, however, he appropriated the wealth of monastic lands without involvement in the actual life of the community.

 

Roman Reform

In the Middle Ages and up to modern times Benedictine monasteries for men and women often formed various associations or unions in order to promote discipline and mutual assistance. This was in fact mandated by the Council of Trent (1545-1563; Sess. xxv, cap. 8). Monasteries slowly and with much hesitation followed the directives of Pope Innocent III and the Fourth Lateran Council (1215) to establish visitations of monasteries and regular general chapters for the enactment of legislation.

 

The Reformers and Decline

Many Benedictine monasteries were closed at the time of the Protestant Reformation both because the reformers preached against monastic vows as unevangelical and because secular rulers coveted and seized the abundance of properties owned by the monastics. Congregations of Benedictines continued in the centuries after the Reformation, but most monasteries were closed and expropriated during the Napoleonic era. As a result, their numbers were very few at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

 

New Dawn

During the course of the 1800s, however, Benedictines experienced a revival. Some congregations, e.g., the Solesmes and Beuronese Congregations, restored a kind of Benedictine monasticism that stressed the enclosed life with its round of liturgical prayer performed with great precision and splendor.

 

Modern Diversity

Other congregations; e.g., the St. Ottilien Congregation and groupings of American Benedictine women, stressed the missionary endeavors of evangelizing, teaching, and health care. Men and women Benedictines continued to establish new houses in many countries right up to the time of Vatican Council II (1962-1965). Since then the number of Benedictines has declined once again, at least in the First and Second World, but it has increased in other regions, e.g., East Africa and South Korea.

 

Geographic Stability

Today Benedictines, both men and women, are still characterized as people who take root in a particular place and who are related to the culture and needs of a specific location. Most are associated together in congregations for purposes of mutual assistance and common discipline. At the same time they vary widely in the type of monastic life they lead. Some pursue an enclosed life with little involvement in the local Church and society; others insist on various degrees of involvement such as education, parochial ministry, evangelization, publication, health care, etc.

 

Roman Roots

In 1887 Pope Leo XIII, who was enamored of the Benedictines, reestablished the College of Saint Anselm in Rome. It continues today as an institute for Benedictine students and others who wish to obtain graduate degrees in philosophy, theology, liturgy, and monastic studies. In 1893 the same pope provided the "order" with an Abbot Primate to oversee the college and to provide spiritual leadership for the Confederation of Benedictine monasteries. The Abbot Primate does not have direct jurisdiction in the monasteries of the order, though he is still charged with a general concern for the well-being of Benedictines around the world. Thus Benedictines differ from most modern religious orders who have a superior general in Rome.

 

Congregational Autonomy

Benedictines of today continue to group themselves in congregations of monasteries; some, however, especially many communities of nuns, are positioned outside congregations and relate directly to the local bishop and to the abbot primate in Rome. The followers of Saint Benedict vary much in the way they carry out the thrust of the sixth-century Rule, but in general they retain essential features of their origins -- local gatherings of monastics who endeavor to seek God in a common life of prayer, reading, and service.

-- From The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia (A Michael Glazier Book), Liturgical Press (1995) 79-80.
This article https://www.litpress.org/ in Portuguese.

 

Bibliographic Resources:

Bibliography for Students of the Rule of Benedict by S. Aquinata Böckmann OSB.

Books and Items of Benedictine Interest (Liturgical Press).

Select Bibliography

Alston, C. Cyprian.

"The Rule of Saint Benedict" in Catholic Encyclopedia (dated, but thorough; NY, 1913; New Advent online collaborative version).
 

Amazon.com.

"Benedictine Spirituality" (topical index of paperback and Kindle editions)
 

American-Cassinese Congregation.

Renew and Create: a statement on the American-Cassinese Benedictine monastic life : Thirty-sixth General Chapter, second session, June 1969. (Lowell, Mass.: Sullivan Bros., 1969).
 

Barry, Patrick OSB, Richard Yeo OSB, Kathleen Norris OblSB and others.

Wisdom from the Monastery: The Rule of Benedict for Everyday Life (Liturgical Press, 2006. Wisdom from the Monastery contains a contemporary translation of the Rule of St. Benedict by Abbot Patrick Barry OSB and short reflections on the seven basic elements of Benedictine spirituality that are a tried and true recipe for healthy, balanced, and purposeful living.
 

Benedict's Rule: A Translation and Commentary.

By Terrence G. Kardong, OSB (Liturgical Press). The first line-by-line exegesis of the entire Rule of Benedict written originally in English. This full commentary -- predominately a literary and historical criticism -- is based on and includes a new translation, and is accompanied by essays on Benedict's spiritual doctrine.
 

Butler, Cuthbert OSB.

Benedictine Monachism: Studies in Benedictine Life and Rule, (First ed., London & New York : Longmans, Green, 1919; 2d ed., 1924; Cambridge : Speculum Historiale; New York : Barnes & Noble, repr. 1961).
 

Chittister, Joan D. OSB.

Wisdom Distilled from the Daily : Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today (San Francisco : Harper, repr. 1991).
 

Daly, Lowrie J. SJ.

Benedictine Monasticism: its formation and development through the 12th century (New York : Sheed and Ward, 1965; repr. 1970).
 

De Waal, Esther.

"The Benedictine Charism Today" (ABCU essay; 26 April 1995).

A Life-Giving Way: A Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict (Liturgical Press, 1995).
 

Fry, Timothy OSB, ed.

RB 1980: The Rule of Benedict, In Latin and English with Notes (Liturgical Press, 1981).
 

Grün, Anselm OSB.

Benedict of Nursia: His Message for Today. Linda M. Maloney, tr. (Liturgical Press, 2006). Each chapter concludes with a brief reflection on the state of contemporary society and how the aspect of the Rule of Benedict treated in the chapter applies to the needs of today.
 

Hicks, Dom Bruno OSB.

"The Benedictines" from Benedictine Biographies (CTS, 1912) 1-32; dated but comprehensive historical overview.
 

Holzherr, Georg OSB.

The Rule of Benedict: An Invitation to the Christian Life. Trans. from the German by Mark Thamert OSB. (Liturgical Press, 2016). Text and commentary.
 

Knowles, Dom David OSB.

The Benedictines (London and New York, 1930); abridged.
 

Leclercq, Dom Jean OSB.

The Love of Learning and the Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture, trans. by Catherine Misrahi (1961; rev. ed., 1977).
 

Stewart, Columba OSB.

Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition. (Orbis Press, 1998).
 

Vest, Norvene OblSB.

Friend of the Soul: A Benedictine Spirituality of Work (Cowley Publications, 1998).
 

Wikipedia.

"Category: Benedictines."
 

Winandy, Jacques OSB, Abbé de Clervaux.

"Benedictine Spirituality" [ca. 1953].

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