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prayers, another very appropriate source for daily inspiration is the Rule of Benedict; written by St. Benedict in the Sixth Century as a guide and rule for the then-fledgling Monte Cassino monastic community, it still lives and breaths today in monasteries and convents all over the world. While not followed literally in all its detailed rules and strictures, it nevertheless defines and focuses what it means to be a Benedictine and to practice Benedictine spirituality. It is the archetype of what a monastic rule should be and forms the basis of nearly every monastic rule in practice today.
Like the Daily Office, the Rule of Benedict is read by Benedictines in daily chunks, organized so that each year contains three complete cycles. In the last few days, the Rule’s designated passages have focused on the role of the Abbott as the leader of the community. Yesterday’s section (note: this translation uses “Abbess” and female references, but is, of course, equally applicable to males) specifically admonishes the community leader not only to preach with words God’s commandments, but also to “[demonstrate] the divine precepts by her actions for those of harder hearts and ruder minds.” Benedict refers to this a “twofold” teaching, and is just one example of how this ancient document can resonate strongly in even the modern world.
Joan Chittister, in her book The Rule of Benedict: Insight for the Ages (Crossroad, New York, 1992), says of this:
Autocrats and militarists and spiritual charlatans and abusive parents and corporate moguls want the people under them to obey laws from which their exalted positions hold them exempt. Benedict says that the only authentic call for obedience comes from those who themselves demonstrate the value of the law.
For a document nearly 14 centuries old, this is timely advice indeed. I need only look at today’s headlines to see evidence of a culture of entitlement and privilege in both private industry and government, evidence so glaring that it is no wonder that many of us have developed an extremely cynical outlook on our putative leaders. Congress passes onerous employment and workplace rules, then exempts itself from compliance; a governor sees nothing wrong with venally extracting whatever benefit to himself he can from the authority granted him by the people of his state; an investment manager gives generously to charities yet robs those same charities of their hard-earned endowments. You, no doubt, can add many more examples to the list.
Perhaps the most egregious examples come from the world of religion itself. How often have we seen so-called religious leaders twisting Christ’s message of simplicity, love and service (radical and challenging enough, don’t you thing?) into messages of intolerance, narrow mindedness and political agenda making?
To quote Joan Chittister again:
Benedict is saying that if the laws are good, then people will be able to see that in the lawgiver. But Benedict is saying even more than this. Benedict is saying that the function of spiritual leadership is not to intimidate people into submission by fear or guilt. The function of spiritual leadership is to show in our own lives the beauty that oozes out of those who live the spiritual life to its fullness. The function of spiritual leadership is to enshirine what a good life can be.
Wow. I would count myself truly blessed to achieve that kind of leadership in anything I do. With Christ’s help, I hope to achieve it someday, and in the meantime support those leaders under whom I serve in their quests to achieve this level of real leadership.
