The Rule of St. Benedict · 6 of 69

Chapter 5: Concerning obedience

The first grade of humility is obedience without delay. This becomes those who, on account of the holy service which they have professed, or on account of the fear of hell or the glory of eternal life consider nothing dearer to them than Christ: so that, so soon as anything is commanded by their superior, they may not know how to suffer delay in doing it, even as if it were a divine command. Concerning whom the Lord said:

“As soon as he heard of me he obeyed me.” And again he said to the learned men: “He who heareth you heareth me.” Therefore let all such, straightway leaving their own affairs and giving up their own will, with unoccupied hands and leaving incomplete what they were doing—the foot of obedience being foremost,—follow with their deeds the voice of him who orders. And, as it were, in the same moment, let the aforesaid command of the master and the perfected work of the disciple—both together in the swiftness of the fear of God,—be called into being by those who are possessed with a desire of advancing to eternal life. And therefore let them seize the narrow way of which the Lord says: “Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life.” Thus, not living according to their own judgment nor obeying their own desires and pleasures, but walking under another’s judgment and command, passing their time in monasteries, let them desire an abbot to rule over them. Without doubt all such live up to that precept of the Lord in which he says: “I am not come to do my own will but the will of him that sent me.”....