Monastic Resources

A Culture of the Word

– Rule of St. Benedict (Engelberg Manuscript)

Monastic Resources

A Culture of the Word

In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI gave a speech to representatives from the World of Culture at the College de Bernedine, wherein he spoke about the origins of western theology and the roots of European culture. In his address, the Pope mentioned how the monks’ search for God was linked to a culture of the word:

“Quaerere Deum: because they were Christians, this was not an expedition into a trackless wilderness, a search leading them into total darkness.  God himself had provided signposts, indeed he had marked out a path which was theirs to find and to follow.  This path was his word, which had been disclosed to men in the books of the sacred Scriptures.  Thus, by inner necessity, the search for God demands a culture of the word.”

It is our hope that as you read and ponder upon the monastic resources below, your immersion into this culture of the word may foster your own search for God.

Writings of Monastic Fathers and Mothers

St. Pachomius

(292 – 348 A.D.)

The Rule of Pachomius

Read Today

St. Basil the Great

(330 – 379 A.D.)

Rule of Basil”

Read Today

St. John Cassian

(360 – 435 A.D.)

“Conferences of Cassian”

Read Today

St. Benedict

(480 – 547 A.D.)

“Rule of St. Benedict”

Read Today

St. Gregory the Great

(c.540 – 604 A.D.)

“The Dialogues:
Book I–IV”

Read Today

St. Columban

(543 – 615 A.D.)

“The Monastic Rule
c. 591

Read Today

St. Bede

(672 – 735 A.D.)

Ecclesiastical History
of England”

Read Today

St. Ambrose Autpert

(730 – 784 A.D.)

“On the Conflict between the Vices and the Virtues” 

Read Today

St. Bernard
of Clairvaux

(1090 – 1153 A.D.)

“Life and Works
of St. Bernard” 

Read Today

St. Hildegard
of Bingen

(1098 – 1179 A.D.)

“Selected Writings
of St. Hildegard”

Read Today

St. Gertrude
the Great

(1256 – 1302 A.D.)

“The Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude”

Read Today

Bl. Columba Marmion

(1858 – 1923 A.D.)

“Christ: the Ideal
of the Monk”

Read Today

Biographies of Monastic Fathers and Mothers

St. Paulus of Thebes

(227 – 342 A.D.)

His Life

Read Today

St. Anthony the Great

(251 – 356 A.D.)

His Life

Read Today

St. Hilarion

(291 – 371 A.D.)

His Life

Read Today

St. Pachomius

(292 – 348 A.D.)

His Life

Read Today

St. Malchus

(died c. 391 A.D.)

His Life

Read Today

St. Martin of Tours

(316 – 397 A.D.)

His Life

Read Today

St. Benedict

(480 – 547 A.D.)

His Life

Read Today

Benedict XVI

“Our Forefathers in Monastic Life”: Biographies of Great Monastic Saints

Read Today

Other Writings

St. John of the Cross

(1542 – 1591 A.D.)

“Counsels to a Religious”: On How to Reach Perfection

Read Today

William Bernard
Ullathorne, osb

(1806 – 1889 A.D.)

“On Christian Humility

Read Today

William Bernard
Ullathorne, osb

(1806 – 1889 A.D.)

“On Christian Patience

Read Today

Benedict XVI

The Origins of Western Theology and the Roots of European Culture

Read Today

Oblate Life

Oblate Formation

Growing in the Charism of St. Benedict

Read Today

What Books Do We Recommend?

Check out our Benedictine Reading List
Learn More