Ealing Abbey

Daily Reading from the Rule of St Benedict

CHAPTER 73: THE EPILOGUE - WHY NOT ALL THE OBSERVANCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS SET UP IN THIS RULE
WE have written this Rule, so that by observing it in monasteries we may give proof that we have at least some goodness of life or the beginning of monastic observance. But for one who would hasten to the perfection of the monastic life, there are the teachings of the holy Fathers, the observance of which would bring a man to the lofty summit of perfection.
For what page, what saying of the divinely inspired Old and New Testaments is not a perfectly straight rule for the life of man? Or what book of the holy Catholic Fathers does not loudly proclaim how we may come by a straight course to our Creator? Then too the Conferences of the Fathers and their Institutes and Lives, and the Rule of our Holy Father Basil, what are these if not the tools for achieving the virtues for good living and obedient monks? But on us who are lazy and loose-living and negligent people they bring the blush of shame.
Therefore whoever you are who are hastening soon to reach the heavenly fatherland, then with Christ’s help carry out this very small rule for beginners, which we have written; and then one day under God’s protection you will arrive at those loftier heights of learning and virtue of which we have spoken.