In The Rule of Saint Benedict, the Prologue involved numerous ideas of never being in an idle state of always regretting our disobediences/evil actions. Instead, we're to move forward and make up for those actions. An example of this idea is when his says that "the labor of our obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobediences," meaning that actually doing something about drifting away from God and severing our relationship with God is what's most important. The worst thing is to be stuck, regretting the things we've done wrong and to not improve. There are many ways to improve our relationship with God like going to Church, simply praying, participating in service projects, etc... In this reading, I feel like a Monk's daily life schedule is an extreme example. It's extreme because it seems like a Monk's attempt to connect with God is central in his daily life. Their daily schedule is so rigorous it seems they barely have free time, and if they do, it's used to read. They have minimal personal belongings and they share everything they own. This especially is important because it's a reminder that the things on earth are practically worthless since what matters most is our relationship with God.. It's a huge reminder of mortality and how unimportant "things" are.
-Katie Lamb
I believe that people who choose to become a monk or a nun are devoting their entire lives to God and to the Christian faith. Becoming a monk or a nun is a sign that a person has chosen a life with God over any other life. I think that those who become monks or nuns have decided that they want every aspect of their life to solely revolve around God and that they make a personal promise/covenant between themselves and God. I think that someone might become a monk or nun because they want to have that commitment and more personal relationship with God. It will give them a deeper understanding of Gods love. Monks and nuns are choosing to live a life of poverty without any personal possessions. They are committing and challenging themselves to live the simplest form of life possible. It challenges your faith and many believe that devoting themselves to this type of life with strengthen their faith deeper than ever before.
ReplyDelete- Nicole Dillon
I think that people who choose to become a nun or a monk are choosing a lifestyle that they feel they belong in. They are choosing to be amongst people who all believe in the same things as them. They want to have God the most important part of there life so they join a lifestyle that revolves solely around God. I think that becoming a Monk also means having a schedule. Some people like organization and a day-to-day schedule that is very regimented. I think Monks and Nuns have this lifestyle so that they can block out everything in the real world and focus on their beliefs and inner feelings. They are able to get away from the chaotic lifestyle and join a lifestyle full of happiness.
ReplyDelete-Lindsey Ritter
Based on what I read in The Rule of Saint Benedict, it is obvious that the life of a monk is strict. With rules about when to eat, when to wake up, and even what to wear, a person would have to have a passion for this lifestyle in order to become involved. I think that a person decides to become a monk or nun because they want to completely focus on being closer to God. The lifestyle I read about is one that allows for this kind of devotion. The many hours of focusing on God’s work gives the religious person time without worrying in the same way others do in day-to-day life. A monk or nun is a person who cares about learning and reading, as this is very apparent in The Rule of Saint Benedict. In addition, he or she is someone who values the idea of many devout people living under one roof to live a life of worship. A person interested in God along with a passion to become closer to him in this style of environment might be why people become monks or nuns.
ReplyDelete-Tori McAllister
When I read the Rule of Saint Benedict, I was struck by the emphasis placed on being slaves or servants of Christ. In the Prologue, St. Benedict states that the goal of this new rule would be to become fully educated in the Lord's service so as to attain happiness. Now this rule, in order to be realized, must be strictly followed. It is certainly not for every type of person on this earth, but it definitely exposes us to the lifestyle the chosen few are called to follow on the path to their own salvation. In this case, salvation means strict following of St. Benedict's rules down to even the regulation of what one wears. It definitely is something to think about...
ReplyDelete-Sophia Pileggi
A person chooses to become a nun or monk because they believe the monastic life is the right path for them to God. The strict rules that St. Benedict provides gives the monk or nun a simple life, with no distractions from their goal in life: to love and serve God and to bring one's soul to salvation. The rules about eating and sleeping habits, clothing and personal belongings help "to give up your will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord." (71)
ReplyDeleteA person must feel that they have a calling to this lifestyle, because without a firm resolution to follow through, the temptations against poeverty, chastity, and obedience could be overbearing. With this lifestyle, however, one may find that his eyes are open to new hloiness through the simplicity of life. "Let us open our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice from heaven that every day call out this charge: If you hear His voice today, do not harden your hearts." (Psalms 94:8)
--Risa Del Eskew
I think a person chooses the sort of life described by the rule because they feel that they are being called to that life by God. It's a vocation, or calling, that they hear from God. However once one hears that call the question becomes what to do about it, and that is where the rule steps in and shows the devout, monastic person how to act accordingly to minimize temptation and maximize devotion. Every part of the rule, it seems to me, is built to streamline the process of growing holier. Everything that distracts or binds one to worldliness or sin is cut off and all that draws the soul to God is encouraged. While the life seems difficult, it is the "cross" that Christ exhorts us all to take up. While most of us aren't called to a religious order, their fervor and most of all their sacrifice as shown by the Rule provide an excellent example to follow.
ReplyDeleteThe rules described by St. Benedict seem quite appropriate for increasing virtue, especially temperance.
ReplyDeleteWe can clearly see from the rules that not everyone is fit to lead a monastic life. There are those who, due to upbringing or by nature, simply lack the desire/ability to exert such self control.
That being said, Benedict's rules will almost certainly bring one closer to God. The only thing that I found surprising was the deliberate lack of leisure time. Though leisure may lead the average person astray, I certainly think some benefit from long amounts of leisure time, as opposed to work.
-Caleb Capozella
Although I fell one can find God and lead a virtuous life without becoming a monk or nun, one may personally choose this lifestyle in order to obtain a deeper relationship with God.
ReplyDeleteThis lifestyle of obedience provides for some a way to grow closer to God that is different from everyday worship. "The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience" (71).
By adhering to the strict principles of St. Benedict, one can stray away from unnecessary temptation presented in society and focus on their own personal relationship with God.
-Jay Garrick
The first and foremost reason for choosing to join a religious order as a monk or nun is that they are responding to a call to serve God. I think God has chosen individuals for this path in life and those that do chose to enter are responding to God's call to serve others in this lifestyle. There are numerous orders that each have a different mission and individuals then fit their personal ideals and talents to a specific order to serve God's people. A big part of religious life is living in a Christian community where you are united by a sense of mission and commitment to respond to God. Many who join may be looking for unity in prayer and work. In a religious community there is support for one another in a search for God. There is also unity in prayer and work. Many who join say it is very freeing to walk away from the materialistic world we live in and focus on God and mission.
ReplyDelete-Carolyn Spero
I believe people enter the ranks of religious only after they "listen carefully...to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of their heart." (Prologue) I believe this self-contemplation and prayer are the most important reasons for men and women becoming monks or nuns. To fulfill one's vows to pray, work, be silent, help the poor, and live in a community, there must be a complete surrendering of the heart-beyond all doubts. A person will enter into the religious life because he believes it is the best way to glorify and imitate Christ's way.
ReplyDelete~Caitlin Gorecki
A person would not become a nun or a monk unless they had a deep, deep love of God and were willing to give up everything to devote their life to Him. Benedict's rules would make so that these peoples would have nothing in their life which would district them from their devotion to God. This is beneficial to the people because they are getting exactly what they want. To the average person, these rules should very strict but I feel that if I wanted to be close to God, I would want these rules in my life so that I could always be close to God.
ReplyDelete-Tara Costello
I believe that most people decide to become monks or nuns because they want to grow closer to God. This reading explains how one does this through a monastic lifestyle. "Faithfully observing his teaching in the monastery until death, we shall through patience share in the sufferings of Christ that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom." (pg 73).
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, it talks about how God's teachings are made into actions through monasticism. "When they live by the labor of their hands, as our fathers and the apostles did, then they are really monks." (pg 79) I also believe that people choose a monastic life in order to truly become disciples of God.
-Elisabeth O'Toole
The Rule of Saint Benedict begets cenobites, or at the very least hopes to. To best accomplish this, Benedict applies instructions found in Biblical passages to his set of rules. For instance, he ascertains that Monks should privately own nothing. He gathers this notion from the Acts, which explains that “All things should be the common possession...so that no one calls anything his own” (Acts 4:32). This becomes a repetitive pattern. He outlines how to receive guests and dress properly, accordingly taking his supporting evidence from the Bible.
ReplyDeleteHis rule, followed by a quote from the Bible, signifies a man who wishes to make God’s wishes an exact reality within the monastic life. He takes what he reads quite seriously; he believes that living out the Word is the best means to reach a fullness in God, and a likeness to Him. Ultimately, the monks “shall through patience share in the sufferings of Christ that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom” (73).
St. Benedict's main point was that people were called to monastoic life because of a desire to become closer to God. To Benedict, this life choice blocks out many of the temptations that life exposes someone to and makes it easer to hear God's calling and will for you. I believe, however, that the monastoic life is not the only way to become close to God. There are other vocations, such as single life and married life, that can help a person become close with God. Everyone has a different path to take, but the end goal is to be with God.
ReplyDeleteSomeone might become a monk or a nun, because he or she feels a call to religious life and then responds to that call. Accordingly, Christ says, "Whoever hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house upon rock" (Matt 7:24). Although all people are called to holiness, those who are called to religious life have a specific call, just as those who are called to marriage or single life do. When we respond to our vocations, we are happiest, because we are doing God's will.
ReplyDeleteMany believe that by pursuing a life of the Monastery is the most admired path of living a life closer or by God. By becoming a monk one is soley living a pure life through God, however their are other means of pursuing such a life. To be a monk is to put aside other wordly desires that could be sinful or tempt and could draw one farther away from God. Yet I believe that to become a monk is by one means of worshiping and showing ones love for God and living a good life, but to not enter into the life of the monastery and continue to still be a person of God through a less strict relilgious lifetsyle is acceptable under His eyes as well.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Smedley
I think that a person might choose to become a monk or nun because they feel a particular calling to live the lifestyle of whichever order they are drawn to. The monastic life may appeal to someone because it is the way that best enables them to connect with God and grow closer with him. It also is a way for one to give themselves in service to others and in prayer to God. These holy people are willing to sacrifice so much for God, and they do so out of profound love and longing for him.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe way I understand it, a person chooses to enter into the religious life based on a desire to live a holy and virtuous life, with God front and center. Not only this, though, but a special KIND of holy and virtuous life - laypeople can be holy and virtuous too. The kind of life described by St. Benedict is different from the of most laypeople in the sense that, as some of my other classmates have pointed out, it is specifically designed to direct all attention towards God and away from earthly desires and concupiscence. The strict guidelines set up for religious life, exemplified in the Rule of St. Benedict, both eliminate distracting factors and subject a person to discipline to make him or her spiritually stronger.
ReplyDeleteChelsey Sterling
There are many reasons why a person may want to become a monk or nun. One reason could be to have a strict set of some sort of guidelines as seen with the Benedictine rule. Some people may feel that they need a regimented life in order to love, serve, and honor God in the best and most adequate way. Becoming a monk or nun means solely living for God to the point that taking these vows is seen as marrying the Church or Christ depending on if you are a monk or nun. This can be viewed as a further deepening ones belief and faith in God. When you become a monk or nun you are also greatly cut off from the secular world which can be seen as a diversion and distraction in the relationship you have with God. This also further develops the relationship one has with God. So in the end of it all, being a monk or nun essentially strengthens the relationship you have with God because most of your time is devoted to Him.
ReplyDeleteEmma Leary
Entering into a life as a monk or a nun shows that a person has chosen to devote their life to God and a Christian lifestyle. These people have completely dedicated their lives to God and his work on earth. The Rule of Benedict exemplifies the guidelines to this lifestyle. They want to be around people that believe the same things they do.They want to become closer to God and form an everlasting relationship. Monks and nuns give up all of their personal belongings and chose to live a life of basically poverty to solely focus on God. They do not have much free time and stick to a strict schedule that focuses on improving their relationship and communication with God.This type of lifestyle is challenging because it is simple. There are no distractions of technology or having a busy schedule. It is constant dedication to God.
ReplyDelete-Katelyn Bockin
I believe a person becomes a monk or a nun because they have a calling from God, and believe that the best life to lead is that of a monk or nun. From reading the Rule of St.Benedict it is obvious that not everyone would be able to live that lifestyle. One must be very devoted to being as close to God as possible.
ReplyDeleteTom May
I believe that becoming a monk or a nun is a solely personal decision however some may argue that this is their vocation or calling from the lord to serve him. By becoming a monk or a nun you are devoting yourself to the lord and living a very simplistic life style. You do not perform services to become rich and build a big house, have nice cars, buy extravagant things, instead you are just taking enough of what you need to get buy and living off of neccessities. Not anyone can be a monk or a nun though, it takes someone with a certain and special disposition to lead this kind of lifestyle in which the majority of your time on earth is devoted to the lord. St. Benedict's guidelines for religious life make it impossible for someone to stray off of this religious path if they choose to follow these rules.
ReplyDelete--Nicholas Darin
The whole purpose of dedicating yourself to a religious life (as monks and nuns do) is to dedicate their lives to God. This is explified by the fact that their daily schedule is dedicated to God. As mentioned before, they are not idle, and spend their day in the constant act of praying, even while they do other activities. This is a special kind of dedication to God, because it involves constant work and thought. Their lives are given to God, and everything they own is dedicated to God. That being said, they have few personal possessions or free time -- that time is all spent in activities they offer to God.
ReplyDeleteTaking the vows to live a religious life is a unique and incredibly challenging way to dedicate your life to God. Those who do so are the ones who hold God in their hearts and minds at all times.
I think people who choose to enter into the monastic life it is because they believe God is choosing them to lead religiously. After reading the Rule of St. Benedict I came to the conclusion that not everyone is fit for the monastic lifestyle. Only a few number of people show interest in choosing to serve God, and only God. Those few people must show pure dedication towards God and the faith.
ReplyDelete-ELISE ARIENS
St. Benedict writes a set of rules for the men of the monastic life to follow. Reading through these rules gives me a much deeper appreciation for the sacrifices that the monks make for the love of God. These men have devoted their entire lives to the worship and praise of God and Jesus Christ. Living in community further strengthens their bond with God because they experience it with others who think the same way. But, once they succeed at the community level, they become hermits. This is because they have shown to be strong enough in their faith that they need only themselves and God to live.
ReplyDeleteJoining a religious order as a monk or nun is one of the greatest dedications that any person can involve themselves in. It is a life fully dedicated to living for God. The Benedictine Rule allows for the people of faith who have entered into this particular life to deepen their understanding and faith in God. It is a set of life standards and promises that bring them closer to God. This life is beneficial in becoming closer to God because the way of life is geared towards limiting outside influences and making it possible to become as close to God as possible.
ReplyDeletePeople become Monks, Priest, Nuns and etc... for many reasons. I feel that they have a calling from god. They chose to give up everything for what they believe in, they totally Devote their lives to God. After reading the Rule of St. Benedict i have gained a new respect for these people because the live that they chose to follow not many can do. they show pure dedication to their cause and only the cause (God) which i respect but i dont think that i would be able to do.
ReplyDelete- John Girardi
St. Benedict wrote his rules for a very select group of men. These men have to be able to center themselves on prayer, perseverance, service, and obedience while choosing to ignore the "greater" aspects of life, the embellishments that we find. The men are required to shed everything that they are born into and be transformed, just like Jesus is transfigured on the mount, into a servant of the Lord.
ReplyDeleteIt seems very apparent that the monastic life is only for men who choose to find God within their service in the monastery, within each other, and within themselves. Monks do not go out to the people, at least not the kind to which St. Benedict refers, therefore they are dedicating themselves to a life of coming closer to God through prayer.
~Nicholas Shields
Becoming a monk or nun i believe is a great thing to do. To me this is the greatest sign to becoming closer to your faith and a part of it. The Benedictine Rule is for people who have made this choice of becoming a monk or nun to better understand who they are and their faith to God. By doing this, they become close to God.
ReplyDelete-mary vogt