Our Rule of Life

The Canons live out their profession according to The Rule of St. Augustine.

The Rule Summarized: 

Community and Shared Purpose:

The Rule emphasizes living in community, sharing resources, and working together for a common good. In a modern context, this translates to actively participating in local communities, volunteering, and supporting causes that align with one's values. 

Poverty and Simplicity:

The Rule encourages a life of poverty and detachment from material possessions, which can be interpreted as a call to live simply and avoid excessive consumption. This can involve prioritizing experiences over material possessions, practicing minimalism, and being mindful of one's spending habits. One should view material wealth in a detached manner.

Obedience and Authority:

The Rule stresses obedience to God and those in legitimate authority, which can be understood as a commitment to ethical behavior and respect for laws and institutions. In a modern context, this means upholding ethical standards in personal and professional life and respecting the rule of law. 

Service and Compassion:

The Rule emphasizes service to others, particularly the poor and vulnerable, which can be translated into actively seeking opportunities to help those in need and promoting compassion and empathy in daily interactions. 

Fraternal Charity:

The rule emphasizes the importance of fraternal charity, which can be interpreted as a call to love and care for one's neighbors as oneself, regardless of their background or beliefs or behavior. 

Prayer and Spirituality:

The rule emphasizes the importance of prayer and spiritual practices, which can be interpreted as a call to seek a deeper connection with God and to live a life of faith and purpose. 

Detachment from the World:

The rule encourages detachment from the world, which can be interpreted as a call to avoid getting caught up in the material world and to focus on spiritual matters. 

Apportionment of Labor:

The rule promotes the fair distribution of labor, which can be interpreted as a call to work diligently and to share the workload with others. The dignity of work is a holy estate.  

Care of the Sick:

The rule encourages the care of the sick, which can be interpreted as a call to be compassionate and help those suffering. Take time to see the wounded Christ in others.

Silence and Reading:

The rule encourages silence and reading, which can be interpreted as a call to be mindful and spend time reflecting and praying.  Silence can be uncomfortable.  It is good to spend time in discomfort.  

Approved Version of The Rule of St. Augustine:

The Rule of St. Augustine: With Commentary by Hugh of St. Victor