Benedictine Values

St Benedict lived in the 5th century and wrote his Rule as a practical guide for abbots and monks. It is divided into 73 chapters and sets out a vision for how to live in community.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral’s Masterplan states ‘A thousand years ago, a Christian community, founded on the Rule of St Benedict, kindled a flame that shared the light of Christ throughout Suffolk.’

It goes on to say ‘We hold our Benedictine principles close – principles such as love, care, hospitality and community – and present these values in a way that relates to and can be easily understood in the twenty-first century.’

Copies of the Rule can still be purchased or you can find it online

The vows monks and nuns make (poverty, chastity and obedience) appear to make their lives very different to most people’s. In fact the three Benedictine promises are stability, conversion of life, and obedience. So they promise to stay in the same Abbey for the rest of their lives, and they commit to practicing stability of mind. That is similar to practicing mindfulness which is known to many people today.

Through promising conversion of life, Benedictines dedicate themselves to a way of life, in the same way people of various professions do by practising their skills every day.  Their obedience might seem extreme, but we know about obedience in our lives when we obey our alarm clock or obey the needs of our pets or obey the needs of our relationships.

Prayer is at the heart of Benedictine life (known as “Opus Dei” or “work of God”).  The Cathedral is open every day for anyone to pray and our daily services offer worship to God.

Hospitality is key to the work of the Cathedral, which offers an open and free welcome to all.  Visitors and pilgrims are greeted as Benedict suggested: “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.”