It is strange to me to see how one goes from Boethius and the happy life to Benedict's rule. They don't necessarily seem as if they oppose one another. Boethius is trying to reconcile the pains of this world to achieve happiness, and he does this through philosophy. Philosophy rationalizes natural desires as bad, ultimately calling us to give up false goods and to pursue the true good. This pursuit for Boethius was never truly described in detail, only by motives and desires. For the monks, it becomes the most practical way of life, so that in everything they might be pursuing the true good, which is God. I tend to look as many things with a skeptical eye, so while the original intent of the monks sound good, they could be taken to the extreme. If the intent of this monastic vow is to grow closer to the Lord, especially in a time of desolation, it is great. As long as their desire is knowing the Lord intimately, that is awesome. Legalism seems like a dangerous threat, though, for unless you have a love of the Lord your good works and abstinence from worldly things is meaningless. I think this is admirable and that we can learn from it, but I could not partake in it myself.
Commented on Rebekah Dye's
I agree! I do not think i could partake in monastic acts either. What you said about the good works and abstinence from worldly things makes a really good point that cannot be stressed enough. Our works only have meaning if they have the love and power of God behind them.
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