An Anglican Rule of Life

By Lucinda Landau

St. Benedict, founder of perhaps the most enduring monastic tradition in Christianity, is celebrated for his 6th century articulation of a rule of life. He had the unique capacity to create an order of community life which was balanced and moderate, hence the flourishing of Benedictine communities around the world over 1500 years later.

The Church in St. Benedict’s day had become identified with the powers that be and political strife was endemic in Church hierarchy. Many monasteries sprung up at the time as a means of truly living a Christian life. Discipleship in the Church was explored in a more meaningful manner by joining a community of like minded men or women to consecrate themselves to a fully devotional lifestyle.

St. Benedict wrote his primer for monastic life in a creative way, not as a didactic guide. He refers to it as a little rule for beginners to assist the brethren to hasten towards their heavenly home. The vows in a Benedictine community are not poverty, chastity and obedience. Rather, St. Benedict encourages stability, obedience and a willingness to be transformed by the monastic way of life.

His focus in the rule is on providing a community structure wherein everyone’s needs are met. He establishes a firm hierarchy under an abbot which builds confidence and security for the community. Benedict created a rhythm of life for the community which is a journey of openness and change. The disciples of the monastery are busy from dawn to dusk with community prayer, hard labour and personal meditation which is never intended to be harsh or burdensome. Professor Terry De Forest, in a recent lecture at Trinity College, observed that St. Benedict’s rule is a balance between gentleness towards others and fierceness in correcting personal shortcomings.

Yet, the call to monastic life is rare today. Few of us who are busy with earning an income to provide for our families have any such inclination. Oftentimes at the end of a hectic week, the invitation of a good sleep-in on a Sunday morning is too much to not give in to. That is not to say that we do not yearn for moments when we can reflect on the deeper journey of our soul.

Is there anything in the Rule of St. Benedict that might give us some structure for our daily living? Do we make provisions for nature’s necessities as we lunge into our daily commute to the job? What kind of an Abbott are we to those for whom we are responsible? What kind of corrective measures do we enforce for ourselves when we have clearly overstepped the bounds of acceptable behaviour? Can our own anchor to Christ withstand the assaults of 21st century living?

The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), initially assembled after the first Canadian General Synod in 1893, sets out a declaration of faith that as people of God, we endeavour to live as a new creation in Christ. The language of worship in the Book of Common Prayer hearkens back to a time when life had a better sense of order and the concept of good government applied even to an individual’s character.

On page 155 of the BCP is published the Anglican Rule of Life and its tenets are well worth considering.

Every Christian man or woman should from time to time frame for himself a RULE OF LIFE in accordance with the precepts of the Gospel and the faith and order of the Church; wherein he may consider the following:

• The regularity of his attendance at public worship and especially at Holy Communion.
• The practice of private prayer, Bible-reading, and self-discipline.
• Bringing the teaching and example of Christ into his everyday life.
• The boldness of his spoken witness to his faith in Christ.
• His personal service to the Church and the community.
• The offering of money according to his means for the support of the work of the Church at home and overseas.

The world in St. Benedict’s day carried no less upheaval and uncertainty than ours today, and certainly no less strain for our early Canadian church founders. Common to both eras is a willingness to be intentional in matters of faith. Can we find spiritual stewardship in the midst of our technological society?

St. Benedict well understood the liberation of obedience; can we rise to the challenge?