The sixth century was one not unlike our own. Wars were being waged, society was in disarray (materially and morally) and the Church was in a state of severe crisis and confusion (sound familiar?). Saint Benedict realized the meaninglessness of his career path in Rome and so he retired to the hills to seek the one thing necessary and the one thing that would change the world? Holiness.

By and by, Benedict attracted aspirants and eventually he wrote a rule of life that would bring millions of souls to great sanctity and whose monks, by humility, prayer and work saved what was left of the Western Roman Empire and ultimately gave birth to the Age of Faith - the Middle Ages.

This rule contained a remarkably simple and common sense approach to spirituality which did not emphasize severe mortification but rather humility, obedience, prayer, work and spiritual reading. Benedict insisted on a vow of stability by which a monk promised to remain in his monastery until death. This made each monastery a brotherhood, a family, in which each member works for the good of the whole, with the Abbot as the spiritual Father.

Saint Benedict's Rule has endured for 1500 years as a living code and guiding light not only for monks, but also for the laity. A full explanation here is not possible, but you will see, on nearly every page, how to bring the monastic spirit into the home in important ways. Benedict's instructions to Abbots on how to deal with different types of monks is perfectly applicable to how a Father must handle different types of children. He even warns about those monks who will try to play the Prior off against the Abbot (any Mother and Father can see what's going on there!). No rectory, no religious house, and no Catholic family, should be without a copy of this seminal work.

-Steps on the path to perfection:
-72 good works that show our love for God
-12 steps of humility
-How to show proper reverence in the presence of God
-How the Divine Office ought to be said
-Prayer - why shorter is better
-On reading
-On eating and drinking
-Observing Lent
-Why daily manual labor is good for the soul

237 pp. Gold-foil stamped hardcover.