THE BENEDICTINE ORDER

The belief that idleness leads to sin provokes the establishment of the Benedictine Order. Founded by St. Benedict around 550 CE, the Benedictine Order prescribes activities and tasks to keep monks and nuns occupied throughout the course of a day. The Order is comprised of 73 chapters that outline specific tasks including harvesting, cleaning, reading and writing, and art making.

Chapter 48 reads:

“On Sundays, let all occupy themselves in reading,
except those who have been appointed to various duties.
But if anyone should be so negligent and shiftless
that she will not or cannot study or read,
let her be given some work to do
so that she will not be idle."