Saint Benedict Rule @ 12:00am

Unfortunately, no Starbucks open at this time of night near by, however, a good rest to stay on track with my 12:00 am readings is a plus. It's nice and quiet, and something about the stillness of the night attracts me to the mystery of staying watch and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me. While the city's crew, prepare the streets for the morning rush, a few hours from now. Therefore, I started my morning call with my Bible and Saint Benedict Rule and immediately, I stop in mid-chapter! Which type of monk am I discerning? You will soon see what I mean, I have read this book before and just like the Bible, a wake-up call thunder through my mind. Chapter 1:

It is well known that there are four kinds of monks. The first kind is that of Cenobites, that is, the monastic, who live under a rule and an Abbot.
The second kind is that of Anchorites, or Hermits, that is, of those who, no longer in the first fervor of their conversion, but taught by long monastic practice and the help of many brethren, have already learned to fight against the devil; and going forth from the rank of their brethren well trained for single combat in the desert, they are able, with the help of God, to cope single-handed without the help of others, against the vices of the flesh and evil thoughts. But a third and most vile class of monks is that of Sarabaites, who have been tried by no rule under the hand of a master, as gold is tried in the fire (cf Prov 27:21); but, soft as lead, and still keeping faith with the world by their works, they are known to belie God by their tonsure. Living in two's and three's, or even singly, without a shepherd, enclosed, not in the Lord's sheepfold, but in their own, the gratification of their desires is law unto them; because what they choose to do they call holy, but what they dislike they hold to be unlawful. But the fourth class of monks is that called Landlopers, (new version-gyrovagues) who keep going their whole life long from one province to another, staying three or four days at a time in different cells as guests. Always roving and never settled, they indulge their passions and the cravings of their appetite, and are in every way worse than the Sarabaites. It is better to pass all these over in silence than to speak of their most wretched life. Therefore, passing these over, let us go on with the help of God to lay down a rule for that most valiant kind of monks, the Cenobites.

Okay, I am discerning to be a Cenobites, however, if I want to be honest in my discernment, I would have to say I am not to far from the vineyard of the last two type of monks, what do you think?

Anyway, check out this website, this is where I copy and paste the first chapter of the Saint Benedict Rule, there is some great information there. Also if you are interested in a copy of these rules, I listed two monasteries on the side links or grab you a copy from amazon.com. Great Book!

http://www.holyrule.com/part1.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Benedictine-Handbook-Anthony-Marett-Crosby/dp/0814627900/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350461570&sr=1-1&keywords=the+benedictine+handbook