The Rule of St. Benedict is a set of guidelines for living a life in a monastery, written by St. Benedict around 516. They were written to govern the daily life of a monk living in a community under the guidance of an abbot. The Rule emphasizes moderation, obedience, stability, humility, prayer, and work, avoiding extreme regulation. It would become the foundation for Western monasticism, strongly influencing medieval European religious, educational, and cultural life.
The routine of a monk would consist of prayer, work, and reading. Monks took vows of stability (staying in one community), obedience, and conversion of life (ongoing spiritual growth).
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