The Rule of Benedict Read online

  Of related interest

  David Robinson

  The Busy Family’s Guide to Spirituality

  Practical Lessons for Modern

  Living from the Monastic Tradition

  ISBN 978-0-8245-2524-8, paperback, 227 pages

  “The most innovative book I have seen in the area of family spirituality.”

  —Spiritual Life Magazine

  Drawing on the timeless principles of monastic communal living, this spiritual guide for families offers effective tools to meet the countless challenges and distractions of contemporary family life.

  Using the tested suggestions, exercises, and activities in this book, you’ll learn about:

  •Choosing a blueprint

  •Family meetings

  •Spiritual practices and rituals

  •Rest and recreation

  •The heart of prayer

  •Coaching the family team

  •Living simply

  •Caring for others

  •Fasting and feasting

  •Family schedules

  •Bedtime rituals

  •Time together and time apart

  •Hospitality

  •Friends and mentors

  •Transforming conflict

  •Leaving home

  •Benedictine spirituality

  David Robinson (D.Min.) is a spiritual guide, teacher, and father of three grown sons. He is pastor at Community Presbyterian Church and a Benedictine Oblate of Mount Angel Abbey, Oregon. David and his wife live in Cannon Beach, Oregon.

  From the introduction:

  “Every year, just before we set out on our annual weeklong family hiking adventure, we gather together at the trailhead, hold hands in a circle, and pray for God’s presence to be with us in our journey ahead. This simple act of devotion is the essence of family spirituality. Fifteen hundred years ago, Benedict gathered a family of monks around a common life of prayer and work. The insights he learned over several decades of life together with his family, he wrote down in a practical, spiritual guidebook, The Rule of St. Benedict. I believe Benedict has wisdom and guidance to offer the 21st century family. As your family begins to practice this way of spiritual life together, you will discover you’ve set out together upon a new path, a wonderful journey to a fulfilled family life. Like The Rule of St. Benedict, this book is written for beginners (RB, 73), for busy parents who may be looking for support and encouragement in the adventure of raising children.”

  From Chapter 1:

  Create Your Home

  Choosing a Proven Blueprint for Your Life

  Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

  —Matthew 7:24

  I vividly recall my first visit to a monastery in October 1986, and the deep sense of peace which came upon me as I sat quietly in the cloister garden. I had come home. Monasteries offer a beautiful design that serves the needs and purposes of the monastic community as well as those who come as guests. You’ll almost always find an enclosed garden at the center of the monastery, surrounded by the sanctuary, dining hall, kitchen, and dormitory. Nearby, you’ll find the guest house along with other rooms including workshops, an infirmary, and the library.

  Like the design of a monastery, blueprints for family spirituality are designed to serve the needs and purposes of families seeking to live together in love. My wife and I shared many conversations regarding patterns of parenting when we became pregnant with our firstborn. Choosing a family blueprint is not easy, but it is essential for the crafting of a well-built family. Benedict’s design for communal spiritual life has stood the test of time, and can offer busy families today wisdom and guidance for finding their way home. Benedict’s family was a community of monks, living under the leadership of an abbot or “father,” and guided by a common “rule of life.” The word “rule,” used throughout, comes from the Latin word regula, meaning a measuring tool or guidebook. From the foundation of Benedict’s Rule, written in the sixth century, there developed thousands of long-enduring spiritual communities across the landscape of Europe, and later around the world, providing stability and wisdom across generations.

  Every family lives according to some type of design whether consciously or not. But without a wise blueprint and a good foundation, a family may not endure the storms that lie ahead. Many parents I know have combined family blueprints from their upbringings. Most parents also seek guidance in the ongoing challenge of raising children. In this chapter we will survey a variety of blueprints for family spirituality, and then look at patterns for family life within those structures.

  Madeleine Delbrel

  The Little Monk

  Wisdom from a Little Friend of Big Faith

  “More than six billion people bear the burden of life. It helps to know that you’re no exception,” says the Little Monk, a fictional character drawn from all the faithful around the globe. Madeleine Delbrel, famous atheist, philosopher, convert and Carmelite nun, created the Little Monk from the depths of her faith and understanding of modern spirituality. The following is a selection from The Little Monk (All images will be displayed in color).