"What else could be sweeter
than the voice of the Lord
inviting us to be with Him?"

-- St. Benedict of Nursia

St. Benedict teaches us a good example for
never giving up,
even when things don't go our way.

Shortly after being invited to become Abbot
of a nearby monastery,
the monks there decided they did not like
the changes Benedict was making.
They conspired together in a plan
and tried to poison him - twice!

Thankfully, the Lord protected Benedict,
who later established many of his own monasteries,
and he is now widely acclaimed as
"the Father of western monasticism".

So, how does this monk, and life in a monastery,
apply to us regular Catholics?
We live in families, go to work or school,
and worship in ways that fit into our busy schedule.

Our way of life seems to have nothing in common
with the austerity and discipline
of a monastery!

However, in recent years,
regular men and women,
who have no interest in becoming
monks or nuns,
find ourselves yearning for a simpler way of life.
We are fed up with the waste and excess
of the modern world.
Our hearts are sickened by the uncaring ways
the poor, sick, and needy are treated
in a world that only cares about
fame and fortune.

Many are turning to the
wisdom, discipline, humility, and simplicity
found in the writings of the saints -
especially the words of St. Benedict.

While it is true that St. Benedict wrote The Rule
with his monks in mind,
we "regular Catholics"
can find great advice in these pages
to improve our lives.

St. Benedict teaches us how to properly order our day,
how to always put Christ first in our lives,
how to get along with each other
(and avoid bad habits that can cause fights),
and how to see Christ in everyone
(especially visitors and strangers).

Love forms the guiding theme of the Rule,
showing us how we must truly seek God in all that we do.
The three main keys to following the Rule are
obedience, patience and humility.

Topics discussed in the Rule include:

"And if we wish to attain everlasting life,
to avoid the pains of hell,
we must, while we still have time living in this flesh,
perform by the light of faith all these things mentioned,
and hastily do that which will benefit us forever."

This little book is easy to read,
and would make a great choice
if you are looking for something different
to read this Lenten season.

This modern translation of St. Benedict's classic Rule
retains the richness and elegance of the original,
while making the language more accessible
for the modern reader.

Written in the sixth century, The Rule of St Benedict
towers in the great tradition of Christian Monasticism.
Its leading characteristics are it's wonderful discretion,
moderation, and keen insight into the
capabilities and weaknesses of human nature.
Here is a common sense approach to arranging life
so that Christian spirituality and virtue can be lived
by everyone.

The Rule of Saint Benedict
$24.95
Imitation Leather
111 pages

Order online now or call
1.866.522.8465
www.catholiccompany.com

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