Benedict's rule starts wisely...

(Vatican Radio) - When Monsignor Peter Fleetwood suggests that Saint Benedict, whose feast day falls on July 11th, could have been from his home City of Liverpool , we know that there's more in this statement than meets the eye.

Because Monsignor Peter says, the first words in his famous Rule for monks are : 'Obsculta fili' , if I'm not mistaken.. they are words you often hear said in Liverpool ....But when people there say 'Listen son', the tone is usually quite menacing...the person who says those words is about to put you in your place."

Whereas Monsignor Fleetwood adds : "...the proof that my theory is completely mad is that Saint Benedict put these words at the beginning of a reasoned and reasonable way of encouraging monks to live harmoniously in a community ... another word used in religious life is obedience...

So Saint Benedict sets the tone for the monks... they should pay close attention and take seriously what the people who had authority over them tell them. This has become difficult and unfashionable in our day for at least two reasons ".

Find out what these two reasons are and listen to this programme produced by Veronica Scarisbrick.