3 ms·

What I find more interesting than the rules themselves is in which ways were they broken. With any system of rules (and the more complex the better), there are

What I find more interesting than the rules themselves is in which ways were they broken. With any system of rules (and the more complex the better), there are bound to be omissions or conflicts which result in gray areas or loop holes. While some monasteries were strict regardless, others pushed the boundaries. Relating to "CHAPTER 39 On the Measure of Food" for example, monk's meals were supposed to "have two cooked dishes". On the other hand, monks could accept gifts from the abbot "And it shall be in the Abbot’s power to decide to whom it shall be given". Naturally in some refectories, the abbot would receive dishes which he would then direct to other tables thus skirting the two dishes rule. If you're interested in this and more, Max Miller's Medieval Rule Breakers[1] episode has many more examples [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz0y1d6IIpY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz0y1d6IIpY Edit: It seems as selimthegrim has beaten me to the punch with the link

mjh2539 6y ago
The rule was advisory in any case; there are multiple points at which St. Benedict advises that the abbot modify things if they had a better way of doing things; the rule of St. Benedict itself is based on several rules that predate it (which are obviously not identical to it).
teleforce 6y ago
This is probably where the bad cliche "rules are meant to be broken" came from. Perhaps St Benedict had missed the note of "Rules Making 101", never make up any rules that cannot and impossible to be followed. As I mentioned in my other comments where God in the Quran has exposed and cautioned the monks (in Chapter "Hadid" or "Iron") who were not observing their own made up rules during their monastic period seeking God's good pleasure, for the exercise of monasticsm that were not originally prescribed or enjoined in their own God's scriptures, oh the irony! Pardon the pun :-)

mjh2539 6y ago

The rule was advisory in any case; there are multiple points at which St. Benedict advises that the abbot modify things if they had a better way of doing things; the rule of St. Benedict itself is based on several rules that predate it (which are obviously not identical to it).

teleforce 6y ago

This is probably where the bad cliche "rules are meant to be broken" came from. Perhaps St Benedict had missed the note of "Rules Making 101", never make up any rules that cannot and impossible to be followed. As I mentioned in my other comments where God in the Quran has exposed and cautioned the monks (in Chapter "Hadid" or "Iron") who were not observing their own made up rules during their monastic period seeking God's good pleasure, for the exercise of monasticsm that were not originally prescribed or enjoined in their own God's scriptures, oh the irony! Pardon the pun :-)