Five Values of Benedict

Hospitality is a primary Benedictine value. St. Benedict in his Rule says that all guests are to be received as Christ. Since guests are never wanting in the monastery, we get to practice this a lot. We have family members, retreatants, oblates, friends, and others curious about our life coming to our doors. It is not always convenient, but we try to be welcoming and to see Christ in them.

Prayer is another Benedictine value. Benedict devoted many chapters to the organization of the liturgy of the hours or divine office. He also prescribed sacred reading or lectio and personal prayer. Hugh Feiss in his book Monastic Wisdom, says, "Benedictine prayer is less about technique than it is about perseverance and attentiveness." Prayer is basically surrendering ourselves and all our activities to God.

Benedict also valued work. He divided the day into times for prayer, reading, and work. The work can be manual or mental labor, but laziness was to be avoided. Unfortunately, sometimes work overtakes our days, leaving little time for prayer and reading. While work is to be valued, it should not overtake our lives.

Silence is another Benedictine value. Benedict believed that listening was essential, and in order to "listen with the ear of our heart,"we need silence. He thought that in much talking it was hard to avoid sin. He warned against murmuring and gossip. When we are silent, we can hear God speaking to us, as well as other people who have wisdom and experience.

Benedict advocated simplicity rather than poverty. He believed we should care for everything as we do the sacred vessels of the altar. Our food and dress should be simple. We should have what we need, but not everything we desire. This is more difficult in this age of technology when computers, iPads, cell phones, and iPhones are necessary for some positions but not others.

Benedictines try to live by these values.