The Rule of Saint Augustine

Book excerpt: The Rule of Saint Augustine, written Augustine of Hippo (354-430), is a brief document which served as a guide for the servants of God. It is the oldest monastic rule in the Western Church. The Rule addresses chastity, poverty, obedience, worldliness, labor, hierarchy, charity, prayer, fasting and abstinence, care of the sick, silence and host of other questions. It came into use on a wide scale from the twelfth century onwards and continues to be employed today by many orders, including the Dominicans, Servites, Mercederians, Norbertines, and Augustinians. The Commentary, traditionally attributed to Hugh of St. Victor (c.1096 -1141), offers a wealth of insight on this important document. This edition was translated from the original Latin by Dom Aloysius Smith and formatted for publication by Chaucer House Press.