Busy refilling my wine glass

A lot of what Saint Benedict talks about in his Rules reminds me of Augustine and his City of God. Both men believe complete dedication to God leads to eternal peace, which is their version of utopia. In his prologue Benedict says that “we must hasten to do now what will profit us for eternity.” In the same regard, Augustine believes that the Heavenly City is “related to the enjoyment of eternal peace” (872). For both men, eternal happiness cannot be found on earth because people are inherently selfish and evil. For Benedict, mending our evil ways will guarantee acceptance into God’s world: we must “recognize always that the evil is one’s own doing, and to impute it to oneself” (chapter 4, #43). If we are aware of our sins and repent, then we can gain access to only perfect world. Similarly, Augustine believes that the Earthly City can never reach the Heavenly City because people will never be as moral as God.

Benedict touches on the four different types of monks, and how the strongest monks are the Cenobites. The Cenobites are the only monks who live in monasteries, which makes it easier for them to “become a stranger to the world’s ways” (chapter 4, #20). If they go into the world they would be subject to the evils of other people and be more likely to give into their own evil ways. Benedict believes that the monasteries curb people’s evil tendencies. However, the monks still sin sometimes and are forced to repent for their sins. Benedict does not claim that the monks become perfect examples of God’s work—only God can be perfect—but he does explain that they put in a valiant effort to be worthy of His love.

Benedict’s belief that “the sisters should be occupied at certain times in manual labor, and again at fixed hours in sacred reading” (chapter 48) also reminded me of City of God. Augustine touched on the idea that mind and body work together to promote peace (872), and I think this is what Benedict is explaining. It is not enough for someone simply work all the time or relax all the time; there has to be a balance between activity and rest, physical stimulation and mental stimulation. I think this balance helps maintain the mind in such a way that unsavory actions and thoughts are held at bay.

Essentially, both men are saying that utopia can never be achieved on earth. People are too unworthy or evil to reach God on earth, but as long as they dedicate their lives to serving Him they will reach that heavenly utopia one day. Benedict says that “the Lord shows us the way of life” (prologue), indicating that without the Lord there will never be a life worth living.

In a sense, I really resent these two readings. I’m not an organized religion kind of person, and I don’t think the fact that I don’t believe in putting a label on the sky stirs me away from living a fulfilling life. Besides, I love wine way too much to ever consider following Benedict’s rules.