Today, Catholics celebrate and honor the life of St. Benedict. St. Benedict is the father of Western Monasticism and is honored by the Church as the patron saint of Europe and students. Benedict left his distinguished family in Central Italy to "take up his yoke" and lead the life of a devout Christian. Benedict became a hermit, living three years in a cave where he was visited only occasionally by a monk. Eventually, Benedict became known for his faith and wisdom and others began to visit him.
When the abbot of a nearby monastery died, the monks implored him to step in as abbot. Benedict at first refused because he did not think that the ways of the monks could be reconciled with his way, but eventually he gave in and accepted the "job." Benedict's intuition proved true as the monks eventually tired of him and tried to poison him. The monks poisoned his wine; however, Benedict said a prayer before his meal and the cup shattered before he drank. The monks then poisoned his bread. Benedict blessed his meal, and a raven swooped in, taking the bread before he could eat it. Benedict wisely returned to his cave.
Benedict's reputation grew and men came to him for guidance. Eventually he founded twelve monasteries. Benedict's most enduring gift was "The Rule of Benedict." The Rule provided structure to both macro and micro aspects of monastic life. The Rule was adopted by virtually every monastery in Europe and was deeply influential on the monks who lived under it, as well those they influenced. According to Wikipedia:
Charlemagne had Benedict's rule copied and distributed to encourage monks throughout western Europe to follow it as a standard. Beyond its religious influences, the Rule of St Benedict was one of the most important written works to shape medieval Europe, embodying the ideas of a written constitution and the rule of law. It also incorporated a degree of democracy in a non-democratic society, and dignified manual labor.
So what influence did the Rule have on labor and employment? The Rule is closely associated with the phrase ora et labora, "pray and work." Work is a big part of life at Benedictine abbies which have historically been autonomous. Here are some parts of the Rule which might have had some influence on modern notions of labor and employment law and management practices:
Chapter II. What Kind of Man an Abbot Ought to Be
Nondiscrimination:
...Let [an abbot] make no distinction of persons in the monastery. Let him not love one more than another, unless it be one whom he findeth more exemplary in good works and obedience. Let not a free-born be preferred to a freedman, unless there be some other reasonable cause. ...Therefore, let him have equal charity for all, and impose a uniform discipline for all according to merit.Chapter III. Of Calling the Brethren for Counsel
Transparency, Openness to bottom-up input
Whenever weighty matters are to be transacted in the monastery, let the Abbot call together the whole community, and make known the matter which is to be considered. Having heard the brethren's views, let him weigh the matter with himself and do what he thinketh best. It is for this reason, however, we said that all should be called for counsel, because the Lord often revealeth to the younger what is best. Let the brethren, however, give their advice with humble submission, and let them not presume stubbornly to defend what seemeth right to them, for it must depend rather on the Abbot's will, so that all obey him in what he considereth best... If, however, matters of less importance, having to do with the welfare of the monastery, are to be treated of, let him use the counsel of the Seniors only, as it is written: "Do all things with counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done" (Sir 32:24).Chapter XXI: Of the Deans of the Monastery
Merit Promotions, Grounds for Demotion
...Let them not be chosen for their rank, but for the merit of their life and their wisdom and knowledge; and if any of them, puffed up with pride, should be found blameworthy and, after having been corrected once and again and even a third time, refuseth to amend, let him be deposed, and one who is worthy be placed in his stead.Chapters XXIII-XXIV.
These chapters basically lay out a progressive discipline system up to and including expulsion from the monastery. 1. private admonition, 2. public reproof, 3. separation from the brothers at meals and elsewhere; and finally expulsion.
Chapter XXIX Whether Brethren Who Leave the Monastery Ought to be Received Again
Rehire Policy
If a brother, who through his own fault leaveth the monastery or is expelled, desireth to return, let him first promise full amendment of the fault for which he left; and thus let him be received in the last place, that by this means his humility may be tried. If he should leave again, let him be received even a third time, knowing that after this every means of return will be denied him.Chapter XLVII Of the Daily Work
Work hours and breaks
Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manualChapter LVIII Of the Manner of Admitting Brethren
labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading. Hence, we believe that the time for each will be properly ordered by the following arrangement; namely, that from Easter till the calends of October, they go out in the morning from the first till about the fourth hour, to do the necessary work, but that from the fourth till about the sixth hour they devote to reading. After the sixth hour, however, when they have risen from table, let them rest in their beds in complete silence; or if, perhaps, anyone desireth to read for himself, let him so read that he doth not disturb others. Let None be said somewhat earlier, about the middle of the eighth hour; and then let them work again at what is necessary until Vespers. If, however, the needs of the place, or poverty should require that they do the work of gathering the harvest themselves, let them not be downcast, for then are they monks in truth, if they live by the work of their hands, as did also our forefathers and the Apostles. However, on account of the faint-hearted let all things be done with moderation. From the calends of October till the beginning of Lent, let them apply themselves to reading until the second hour complete. At the second hour let Tierce be said, and then let all be employed in the work which hath been assigned to them till the ninth hour. When, however, the first signal for the hour of None hath been given, let each one leave off from work and be ready when the second signal shall strike. But after their repast let them devote themselves to reading or the psalms. During the Lenten season let them be employed in reading from morning until the third hour, and till the tenth hour let them do the work which is imposed on them.
Hiring and Probationary Period, Mentoring
Let easy admission not be given to one who newly cometh to change his life; but, as the Apostle saith, "Try the spirits, whether they be of God" (1 Jn 4:1). If, therefore, the newcomer keepeth on knocking, and after four or five days it is seen that he patiently beareth the harsh treatment offered him and the difficulty of admission, and that he persevereth in his request, let admission be granted him, and let him live for a few days in the apartment of the guests. But afterward let him live in the apartment of novices, and there let him meditate, eat, and sleep. Let a senior also be appointed for him, who is qualified to win souls, who will observe him with great care and see whether he really seeketh God, whether he is eager for the Work of God, obedience and humiliations. Let him be shown all the hard and rugged things through which we pass on to God.
If he promiseth to remain steadfast, let this Rule be read to him in order after the lapse of two months, and let it be said to him: Behold the law under which thou desirest to combat. If thou canst keep it, enter; if, however, thou canst not, depart freely. If he still persevereth, then let him be taken back to the aforesaid apartment of the novices, and let him be tried again in all patience. And after the lapse of six months let the Rule be read over to him, that he may know for what purpose he entereth. And if he still remaineth firm, let the same Rule be read to him again after four months. And if, after having weighed the matter with himself he promiseth to keep everything, and to do everything that is commanded him, then let him be received into the community, knowing that he is now placed under the law of the Rule, and that from that day forward it is no longer permitted to him to wrest his neck from under the yoke of the Rule, which after so long a deliberation he was at liberty either to refuse or to accept. Let him who is received promise in the oratory, in the presence of all, before God and His saints, stability, the conversion of morals, and obedience, in order that, if he should ever do otherwise, he may know that he will be condemned by God "Whom he mocketh." Let him make a written statement of his promise in the name of the saints whose relics are there, and of the Abbot there present. Let him write this document with his own hand; or at least, if he doth not know how to write, let another write it at his request, and let the novice make his mark, and with his own hand place it on the altar. When he hath placed it there, let the novice next begin the verse: "Uphold me, O Lord, according to Thy word and I shall live; and let me not be confounded in my expectations" (Ps 118[119]:116).
Then let all the brotherhood repeat this verse three times, adding the Gloria Patri.
Then let that novice brother cast himself down at the feet of all, that they may pray for him; and from that day let him be counted in the brotherhood. If he hath any property, let him first dispose of it to the poor or bestow it on the monastery by a formal donation, reserving nothing for himself as indeed he should know that from that day onward he will no longer have power even over his own body. Let him, therefore, be divested at once in the oratory of the garments with which he is clothed, and be vested in the garb of the monastery. But let the clothes of which he was divested by laid by in the wardrobe to be preserved, that, if on the devil's suasion he should ever consent to leave the monastery (which God forbid) he be then stripped of his monastic habit and cast out. But let him not receive the document of his profession which the Abbot took from the altar, but let it be preserved in the monastery.
Chapter LXIII Of the Order in the Monastery
Seniority
Excepting those, therefore, whom, as we have said, the Abbot from higher motives hath advanced, or, for certain reasons, hath lowered, let all the rest take their place as they are converted: thus, for instance, let him who came into the monastery at the second hour of the day, know that he is younger than he who came at the first hour, whatever his age or dignity may be.Chapter LXIV Election of the Abbot
Workplace Democracy
In the election of an Abbot let this always be observed as a rule, that he be placed in the position whom the whole community with one consent, in the fear of God, or even a small part, with sounder judgment, shall elect.
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