St. Benedict's Rule for Monasteries

A readable translation separated into daily readings. I prefer this translation, which is more literal than the free-form 1980 translation (with the red cover), but is still in modern English, without the AV style 'thee" and "thou" and "shalt". The only drawback is that the type style is fixed and doesn't work very well on the Kindle PW.

Being a Benedictine monk who ha vowed to live "The Holy Rule," I prefer this translation instead of some six others! Listed above is the name of Dom Cuthbert Butler who contributed a very scholarly arrangement of the Latin text. The English translation was made by an Oblate of St. Benedict who was affiliated with St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota. This translation was made over 50 years ago, and I believe it is the best English version.

This book is tiny, and it’s complete.The best copy of the Rule I’ve seen.Daily readings guide you through the Rule three times per year.Very convenient.

This book is similiar to LTP's "RB 1980 The Rule of St. Benedict" (the pocketsize edition) edited by Timothy Fry. Although it is the 1930's edition, it is broken down by days. For those who are looking for an electronic daily edition, this is the one you want. Hopefully, the 2000 edition Blue Book will eventually be published electronically, but for now, this is good.

Compared to the translation by Rev. Boniface Verheyen, OSB the language is more modern. Like one of the previous it is a good alternative until the kindle version of the 1980 translation comes out.

After the Bible one of the top 3 or 4 books for the journey from this world to the next.

I've read a few version of the Rule, and this one is as good as any. It has the readings broken up by date, which is very helpful. You can easily search this version by the day's readings.

Although it may not be followed as closely as it once was, all Western monastic tradition is informed by this rule.

This is a pocket sized edition that may be easily carried and read at anytime. It is a straight translation of the original Latin text into English, by Leonard J Doyle. There is no Introduction, Forward or Prologue from the translator (Doyle), and no background information of anykind. These omissions simply add to the charm of this edition. Any monastic following this Rule will benefit greatly from this no nonesense translation. The spartan approach of the translation reflects the crystal like wisdom, and the pure lifestyle expected from those who dedicate their lives to the teachings of St Benedict (480-547), who advocated poverty and stability as methods toward the acquiring of the state of grace. The Rule advocates that one should 'liston' with one's heart and mind. The first word in the Rule is 'listen'. St Benedict wrote a Rule with a Prologue and 75 short chapters.There is the following note:'This translation of the Holy Rule of St Benedict was made from the third edition of the text as edited by Dom Cuthbert Butler of Downside Abbey in England (St Louis B Herder Book Co, 1935).'This edition has 101 printed pages and no Afterword or Epilogue. This is a creation of great spiritual faith and wisdom. It reminds the world of the presence of the Christian monastic tradition that quietly goes on its way through the ages. This is a pure and uplifting text that anyone would benefit from whilst on the spiritual journey.

The "original" rule book for monastic life. Pocket sized.

Being a full Benedictine Oblate, it is required of me to read from this Book every day. Having access to it on Kindle is ideal, as it provides speedy and convenient reading wherever I am.