“We are therefore now about to institute a school for the service of God, in which we hope nothing harsh nor burdensome will be ordained.”
In the Prologue, Benedict established the purposes and intent of codifying rules for a monastery. This ultimate goal is thus presented.
“Idleness is the enemy of the soul"
A foundation of life in the monastery is discipline. A disciplined mind always attentive to a task which must be done is free from the dangers of idleness. Idle time is the entryway for thoughts which lead to temptation and foster evil sins.
“We have therefore to beware of evil desires, since death stands close at the door of pleasure.”
The enemy of the soul is outlined here as evil desires. Evil desires cover not just sins of the flesh, but what the rules outline as perhaps the overriding sin capable of upsetting the delicate balance inside a monastery: humility.
“When all these steps of humility have been mounted the monk will presently attain to that love of God which is perfect and casteth out fear.”
Interestingly for contemporary readers, the rules outline 12 steps to overcoming humility. The mere fact that a dozen different steps—which are related to climbing a ladder to heavenly reward—are carefully delineated reveals the nature of the importance of avoiding a lack humility. The goal of leading a life of humility appears related to the concept of living in fear of god.
“monks are men who can claim no dominion even over their own bodies or wills.”
On the subject of whether monks can have possessions, the rules could not be made any clearer. Possessions are forbidden since even the body their soul inhabits cannot be said to belong them. Further instruction allows them to maintain only that which the abbot has instructed they may keep.
“Do thou, therefore, whosoever thou art who hasteneth forward to the heavenly country, accomplish first, by the help of Christ, this little Rule written for beginners, and then at length shalt thou come, under God’s guidance, to the lofty heights of doctrine and virtue, which we have spoken of above.”
After a full-scale accounting of rules and regulations on everything from how to sleep and banish monks who violate rules to the proper age and experience of the porter to the door of the monastery, the rules finally reach their conclusion with summing up.
