Benedicts rule a translation and commentary by terrence g kardong osb is the first line by line exegesis of the entire rule of benedict written originally in english this full commentary predominately literary and historical criticism is based on and includes a latin text of regula benedicti liturgical press. The rule of saint benedict latin regula sancti benedicti is a book of precepts written in 516 by benedict of nursia c ad 480 550 for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot the oldest copy of the rule of saint benedict from the eighth century oxford bodleian library ms hatton 48 fols 6v 7r. The rule of st benedict consists of a prologue and seventy three chapters ranging from a few lines to several pages they provide teaching about the basic monastic virtues of humility silence and obedience as well as directives for daily living the rule prescribes times for common prayer meditative reading and manual work it legislates for the details of common living such as clothing sleeping arrangements food and drink care of the sick reception of guests recruitment of new . Rule of st benedict st benedict lived in the 5th century and wrote his famous rule as a practical guide for abbots and brother monks living together in a monastic community it is a short book consisting of 73 chapters no more than paragraphs and sets out st benedicts vision of how the values of the gospel can be lived out in a community