Find Interior Peace With the Brief Rule of St Romuald

St Romuald, whose Feast is today, founded the Camaldolese Hermits of Mount Corona. There is a second Order, as well, the Benedictine Camaldolese.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

The holy monk left a very short rule to follow that can open your soul to God’s presence. 

Among the many reformers of the religious life, one who doesn’t often get mentioned is St. Romuald. He was an Italian hermit in the 10th century who sought to revive the asceticism of eremitical life.

After leading a life of sin, Romuald fled the world and became a monk, but was not satisfied with the rigours of the community. He joined a Benedictine monastery, but then travelled around Italy, reforming monasteries and hermitages. He eventually settled down and established a monastery that would later be known as the Camaldolese order.

Romuald left a “Brief Rule” that is simple, yet profound. It can help us in our prayer life and lead to interior peace:

St. Romuald's Brief Rule For Camaldolese Monks

Sit in your cell as in paradise.
Put the whole world behind you and forget it.
Watch your thoughts like a good fisherman watching for fish,
The path you must follow is in the Psalms — never leave it.

If you have just come to the monastery,
and in spite of your good will you cannot accomplish what you want,
take every opportunity you can to sing the Psalms in your heart
and to understand them with your mind.

And if your mind wanders as you read, do not give up;
hurry back and apply your mind to the words once more.

Realize above all that you are in God's presence,
and stand there with the attitude of one who stands
before the emperor.

Empty yourself completely and sit waiting,
content with the grace of God,
like the chick who tastes nothing and eats nothing
but what his mother brings him.