The Rule of St. Benedict: A Modern Translation (Updated, Easy-to-Read Language with Sidenotes) Modern Saints Series — Fresh and Faithful Christian Classics

by Saint Benedict Abbot of Monte Cassino, Peter Northcutt (Translator)

100 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2025

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of the Modern Saints books for a while now, and with each new release Peter N gets even better at bringing these Christian classics to a modern and therefore wider audience. Benedict's ancient Rule is restructured and recast in a way that makes the principles of monastic life applicable and casts light on their historic context. My favorite parts are probably the side notes, which explore the ideas from a contemporary viewpoint and often with a dash of good humor. After spending a year at a Benedictine monastery (and reading older versions of the Rule), definitely a delightful refresher. The way of simplicity, truth and humility is a tough way of life to lead in our current world, and a work like this is clearly more needed than ever.

[Sarah Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

While The Rule of St. Benedict is among the easier more approachable Christian classics to read, the Modern Saints translation made it easy and clear to understand what St. Benedict was saying and why it was important to his community. Helpful sidebars explain monastic and liturgical terminology that us unfamiliar to many people today With that newfound clarity, it becomes easier to see how his Rule is still relevant to our lives today.