The Rule of St Benedict Chapter 41
At What Hours the Brothers are to Take their Meals
Text
From Pentecost for the whole summer, if the monks do not have labour in the fields, or are not disturbed by excessive heat, on Wednesdays and Fridays let them fast until the ninth hour; however on the other days let them eat at the sixth hour.
A Pentecoste autem, tota aestate, si labores agrorum non habent monachi, aut nimietas aestatis non perturbat, quarta et sexta feria ieiunet usque ad nonam; reliquis vero diebus ad sextam prandeant.
If they have work in the fields or the heat of summer is excessive, let this meal at the sixth hour be the rule, at the judgment of the abbot.
Quae prandii sexta, si opera in agris habuerint, aut aestatis fervor nimius fuerit, continuanda erit, et in Abbatis sit providentia.
And let him so govern and arrange all things so that souls may be saved, and whatever the Brothers do, they may do without any murmuring.
Et sic omnia temperet atque disponat, qualiter et animae salventur, et quod faciunt fratres, absque ulla murmuratione faciant.
However during Lent until Easter, let them eat in the evening.
In Quadragesima vero usque ad Pascha, ad Vesperam reficiant.
Let this evening meal be so arranged, however, that they may not need the light of lamps while eating, but all is completed by the light of day.
Ipsa tamen Vespera sic agatur, ut lumine lucernae non indigeant reficientes, sed luce adhuc diei omnia consummentur.
But in all seasons, for either the midday meal or the evening meal, the hours should be arranged so that all can be done by daylight.
Sed et omni tempore, sive cenae, sive refectionis hora sic temperetur, ut cum luce fiant omnia.
Comment
We’ve already mentioned that the concept of three meals a day is a relatively recent one, with breakfast being a modern invention. For most people through the ages, two meals and possibly a small snack or drink first thing in the morning would be the norm.
St Benedict follows ancient church practice in this chapter. He doesn’t mention it explicitly, but there was no fasting during the Easter period. From Pentecost, however, monks are to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, with a meal in the middle of the afternoon, which we assume is the only meal. On other days, St Benedict specifies that they eat at midday. Does this mean that there was no evening meal at all on these days? The text doesn’t say, but Benedictines have traditionally had two meals on these days.
During Lent, only one meal is taken every day, in the evening. Given the shortness of the days at this time of year, it seems likely that this meal would be about the time of None in the summer, as it all has to be done by daylight.
As always, St Benedict urges discretion. Dom Delatte in his commentary on the Rule says:
St Benedict adds that he [the abbot] must also so contrive and arrange all things that souls may be saved, and the work of the brethren be fulfilled without murmuring. Here, as always, we find care for measure and moderation, fear of murmuring and complaint, though this be entirely secret. Better to dispense with the fast than to expose the brethren to discouragement or distress.
The concept of three meals per day crept into monasteries over the years and fasting was reduced. It was even more the case after Vatican II, when many dropped the Wednesday and Friday fasts. Some have kept the “monastic lent”, but with Friday fasting only from September 14th through to Lent. However, most of these still have at least two meals two meals on fasting days. But some of the modern congregations, such as the Benedictines of Mary Queen of the Apostles, have returned to the ancient practice of one meal on fasting days.
Fasting is something I have traditionally found hard, but I have prayed to do better at it and am finding it easier. At this time of year I switch to only soup for lunch, if I have lunch at all, and often, especially when I’m out and about, I skip lunch entirely. I try to keep the Friday fast whenever I can, and occasionally Wednesdays too, especially the ember days. It’s a good spiritual and physical practice, one that is neglected in our modern world.
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