How to Live: What the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community

In this accessible guide to the good life, journalist and poet Valente (Atchison Blue) illustrates how St. Benedict’s sixth-century monastic manual for healthy communal living can address contemporary conundrums, such as the echo chamber of social media, information overload, and the challenges of “Workaholism and Over-Achieverism.” In 21 short chapters, Valente highlights key selections from the Rule of St. Benedict, analyzing how ancient directives on topics such as paying attention, living fully, silence, humility, prayer, forgiveness, trust, and leadership can strengthen relationships and communities. Valente picks out the Mount St. Scholastica Benedictine Monastery in Atchison, Kans., for their guidance on cultivating harmony: “Before you open your mouth to speak... ask yourself three questions: Is what I am about to say true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” Valente argues that contemporary workplaces could benefit from Benedict’s management model, which mandates hours for leisure and gives workers opportunities to request help or work reassignment, allowing them to “serve without distress.” While acknowledging that many businesses lack the time required for monastics’ consensus-building, she posits that the rule’s emphasis on transparency and openness to multiple viewpoints promotes sound decision-making. These astute reflections on the rule’s tools for nurturing community provide valuable guidance for those seeking balance in a conflict-ridden world. (Apr.)