Fridays with Benedict: Chapter 22, The Sleepy Like to Make Excuses

Chapter 22 of The Rule of St. Benedict is about "The Sleeping Arrangements of the Monks." Here Benedict instructs that the monks are to "sleep in separate beds" but "all are to sleep in one place," if at all possible. The monks are also to have a night light, which I think is nice: "a lamp must be kept burning in the room until morning."

Given that the monks rise at night for prayers, they are to sleep with their clothes on: "They sleep clothed, and girded with belts or cords." But there is one important caveat to this instruction: "they should remove their knives, lest they accidentally cut themselves in their sleep."

Excellent point. And you shouldn't bathe with a toaster oven. 

When the signal is given to wake up the monks should get up "without delay" and "hasten to arrive at the Work of God before the others, yet with all dignity and decorum."

Because, really people, it's not a race.

All that sounds delicious to morning people. But what to do with those struggling to get out of bed? Benedict instructs:

⁸On arising for the Work of God, they will quietly encourage each other, for the sleepy like to make excuses.

Tell me about it. The sleepy also like to make excuses in my eight o'clock classes.

Incidentally, I like how Benedict instructs us to quietly encourage the sleepy to rise. As Proverbs instructs us:

Proverbs 27:14
If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.

Morning people, take heed.