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Saturday, February 10, 2007

More from St Benedict

"Every one hath his proper gift from God, one thus, another thus."

For this reason the amount of other people's food cannot be determined without some misgiving. Still, having regard to the weak state of the sick, we think that a pint of wine a day is sufficient for any one. But let those to whom God gives the gift of abstinence know that they shall receive their proper reward. If either local circumstances, the amount of labour, or the heat of summer require more, it can be allowed at the will of the prior, care being taken in all things that gluttony and drunkenness creep not in.

Although we read that "wine is not the drink of monks at all," yet, since in our days they cannot be persuaded of this, let us at least agree not to drink to satiety, but sparingly, "because wine maketh even the wise to fall away."
The Rule of St Benedict, Chapter 40

I just thought I'd share this because it tickled me. Needless to say, I could quite happily submit myself to being restricted to a pint of wine per day.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gah; I hardly drink! What edition of the rule do you have?

Michael said...

Become a Benedictine! :-)

It's the Baronius Press Edition (2005), translated by one Cardinal Gasquet.

Anonymous said...

D'you have a link for me to it?

Re Benedictines, well, I'm going up to Pluscarden at the end of the month! ;-)

Michael said...

Try this. It's a beautiful volume: leather-bound with title and border in goldleaf. The text is elegant to look at, although I'm still trying to figure out why the monks pray the Diving Office rather than the Divine Office. (I presume the proofreader missed that one).

Let me know how Pluscarden goes. I'm just waiting to hear back from Christminster.

Pax.

Anonymous said...

That's hilarious! I'd be unconscious after a pint of wine, or if not I'd certainly be thoroughly irreverent.

Michael said...

I'd be right there with you. Mind you, I've got to the point recently where I can still walk in a straight line after two bottles, which is rather bad. I think that some Lenten sobriety may well be in order.

(Don't think I've forgotten your e-mail, BTW).