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Around the middle of the sixth century, an Italian monk wrote some guidelines for people interested in the monastic life. The result was a small book that he described as "advice from a father who loves you."
The monk’s name was Benedict, and his modest little book came to have an impact out of all proportion to its size. Known as the “Rule of St. Benedict,” it sparked a revolution in the church that is still going on today. That’s because it became the foundation for the whole of Western monasticism, as well as a source of guidance for countless lay people seeking a closer relationship with the Lord.
Lent is a good time to explore the time-tested way of holiness that Benedict presented in his “little rule for beginners.” In fact, his Rule even includes a special chapter on how to observe Lent. As we might expect, it urges readers to undertake extra acts of self-denial. But in a bit of a surprise move, Benedict makes a point—twice—of stressing that this is meant to be…
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