St. Benedict's Rule For Monasteries

Society’s ability to remain culturally distinct lies in the expectations placed on the members of its society. Society’s values shape its culture while differentiating society from ‘outsiders‘. These self-designated values generate a sense of identity and community. Henceforth, society begins to view ‘outsiders’ as different as they do not uphold the same values as they hold. In St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries a sharp division is established between monks and secular Christians. While within the Franciscan Order there are distinctions between the monks and the secular Christians, but it is not as well defined evident in the constant interactions between the society of the Franciscans and the secular world.

In the Rule of St. Benedicts,

Their obedience to god should supersede any form of self-interest; monks shall always place god ahead of personal matters. As secular Christians’ devoutness to god is neither as intense nor as committed they do not hold the same values in their daily lives that are held by the monks. Obedience is expected without hesitation, as it represents genuine faith in God. Silence denotes another quality that distinguishes Christians and monks forming the distinction between them. Monks are pupils and should not be speaking as speaking is reserved for the master. If they must speak, they are to speak in a humble manner. This subordination of speech illustrates another step in the formation of a barrier between the monastery and the outside world. Humility is another of the defining characteristics that differentiate monasteries from secular Christians. Unlike secular Christians the monks are required to refrain from satisfying their desires, endure any form of temptation, and be content with the self-assigned

“If they believe all these things, wishing to confess them faithfully and observe them diligently until the end; and if they have no wives, or their wives have entered a convent, or permission has been given to them by authority of their bishop, a vow of chastity having been taken and their wives being of such an age as to avoid suspicion; then let them go, sell all they have, and attempt to give it to the poor” (The Rule of the Franciscan Order). Once initiated into the brotherhood the monks cannot leave, as "no one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (The Rule of the Franciscan Order). Rules and requirements shape the Franciscan order in a different way then the Secular Christian world and other Orders like St.