June 20, 2020

One Benedictine Monk’s Own Thoughts on Rod Dreher’s “Benedict Option”




I am a Benedictine monk, and I’ve been perplexed ever since I first heard of Dreher’s proposal of a “Benedict Option.”

In his “Rulebook” for monks, chapter 66, St. Benedict wrote:

“The monastery should, if possible, be so constructed that within it all necessities, such as water, mill and garden are contained, and the various crafts are practiced. Then there will be no need for the monks to roam outside, because this is not at all good for their souls.”

In the next chapter, St. Benedict wrote of monks whom the abbot has for some reason sent on a journey:

“When they come back from a journey, they should, on the very day of their return, lie face down on the floor of the oratory at the conclusion of each of the customary hours of the Work of God. They ask the prayers of all for their faults, in ease they may have been caught off guard on the way by seeing some evil thing or hearing some idle talk. No one should presume to relate to anyone else what he saw or heard outside the monastery, because that causes the greatest harm. If anyone does so presume, he shall be subjected to the punishment of the rule.”

St. Benedict clearly wanted his monks to have little knowledge of and influence from the world outside the physical enclosure of the monastery. This restriction is a legitimate aspect of the monastic charism, but it is not something appropriate for the whole Church.

Here are the “options” Christ wanted for the Church as a whole.

[Matthew 5:13a,14-16] You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

[Matthew 28:19-20a] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

[Mark 16:15] Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

It would be exceedingly difficult for the Church to obey Christ in these matters if the Church as a whole were to live as St. Benedict wanted monks to live.

During his public ministry— and I emphasize the word “public”— Christ withdrew frequently for solitude and prayer, but he didn’t live as a Benedictine monk.

Why not propose instead the original “Gospel Option” that Christ gave for the Church as a whole? There’s no need to reinvent the wheel.