Episode 6: Getting Medieval on the Rule of St. Benedict


What if I told you that without the Rule of St. Benedict for monks there would be no Western civilization? Hint: It isn’t because monks were not supposed to laugh.

Video with subscription at Unauthorized.tv (History and Logos Channel)

 References 

Texts 
People
Psalm 1 Beatus vir
Psalter of Oswald
London, British Library, Harley MS 2904, fol. 4
Ramsay Abbey, ca. A.D. 980-1000
Liturgical schedules
  • Divine Office (daily)
  • Temporale (annual, moveable feasts of the Lord)
  • Sanctorale (annual, fixed feasts of the saints)
Psalms of the Lord of Hosts (Vulgate numbering, a sampling) 
  • 7 Domine, Deus meus
  • 17 Diligam te, Domine
  • 19 Exaudiat te Dominus
  • 23 Domini est terra
  • 26 Dominus inluminatio meo
  • 34 Iudica, Domine
  • 36 Noli aemulari
  • 43 Deus, auribus nostris
  • 44 Eructavit cor meum
  • 45 Deus noster refugium
  • 67 Exsurgat Deus
  • 79 Qui regis Israhel
  • 88 Misericordias Domini
Further reading
Cover image: The Library burns (The Name of the Rose, 1986)
By proclaiming St Benedict Patron of Europe on 24 October 1964, Paul VI intended to recognize the marvellous work the Saint achieved with his Rule for the formation of the civilization and culture of Europe. Having recently emerged from a century that was deeply wounded by two World Wars and the collapse of the great ideologies, now revealed as tragic utopias, Europe today is in search of its own identity. Of course, in order to create new and lasting unity, political, economic and juridical instruments are important, but it is also necessary to awaken an ethical and spiritual renewal which draws on the Christian roots of the Continent, otherwise a new Europe cannot be built. Without this vital sap, man is exposed to the danger of succumbing to the ancient temptation of seeking to redeem himself by himself - a utopia which in different ways, in 20th-century Europe, as Pope John Paul II pointed out, has caused "a regression without precedent in the tormented history of humanity" (Address to the Pontifical Council for Culture, 12 January 1990). Today, in seeking true progress, let us also listen to the Rule of St Benedict as a guiding light on our journey. The great monk is still a true master at whose school we can learn to become proficient in true humanism.
—Pope Benedict XVI, St. Peter’s Square, April 2008
Rule of St. Benedict, chapter 1
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Hatton 48, fol. 6v-7r
8th century, England

Course Study Guide

Comments

  1. Farnarkler BearJanuary 14, 2020 at 5:15 AM

    Hi Dr, I'm late to this class but I just wanted to touch base and say how much I'm loving it. You are crushing!
    I'll try to come up with some questions so I don't sound like the dumb kid; at this stage though I'm struggling to wrap my head around the commitment and devotion that being a medieval monk entailed. It's fascinating and yet almost completely alien.
    I'll jump into episode 7 tomorrow. Keep going and thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unauthorized Professor Rachel Fulton BrownJanuary 14, 2020 at 6:44 AM

      I am happy you are enjoying the lectures! Yes, I am amazed at what the monks were able to accomplish. They were the professional athletes of their day--prayer athletes!

      Delete
    2. BelovedNovember 10, 2020 at 2:11 AM

      There's power in singing.

      In the bible, King Saul was tormented by an evil spirit sent by God which could only be calmed by the singing of David.

      Now, whatever could King David the writer of most of the Psalms have been singing when he calmed the evil spirits?

      Continuing with my commentary on your wonderful series, perhaps these monks weren't wasting their lives fighting "Demons".

      I do wonder when exactly the Benedictine Order became corrupted and replaced good traditions with new ones.

      Delete

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