In recent years, many Christians, especially evangelical Protestants, have discovered the power and beauty of living according to a prayerfully chosen “rule of life” (see, for example: You Are What You Love by James K. A. Smith, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero, The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley, Crafting a Rule of Life by Stephen Macchia, and Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer).
What is a Rule of Life?
A rule of life is a set of rhythms and practices we choose to live out in order to make space for our highest priorities, values, relationships, and callings.
It turns out, this is something Catholics ought to know all about, as it comes from our own tradition. St. Benedict authored the first well-known rule of life for monks in the 6th century, and both religious communities and official church movements have had clearly defined rules of life ever since. Yet, outside of religious communities and official movements like Cursillo or Focolare, etc., just the opposite is the case. At least in my experience, both personally and professionally, few lay Catholics in ordinary parishes know how to write a rule of life for prayer, study, rest, community, mission, and the like.
The Image of a Trellis
One use of the word “rule” (regula in Latin) is “a straight piece of wood,” like a ruler. But long ago it was sometimes used to denote a trellis for plants, upon which a vine can grow, as in a vineyard. With this in mind, recall Jesus’ metaphor of the vine and the branches found in John 15:4-5 (NRSV-CE):
Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
Now put the two images together. What does the structure of a trellis do for a vine? It gives it the spacing and structure it needs to keep growing, to stay protected (from predation, rot, and getting trampled on), and to bear much more fruit than it would otherwise. This is what a prayerfully chosen rule of life does for our relationship with God. When we choose to order our lives around the practices and rhythms that best position us to experience God’s rest, receive his Spirit, tune us into his voice, and share his life with others, we construct a trellis upon which we can continue to grow, be healed, and bear fruit for the Kingdom. A rule of life helps our good intentions to follow Jesus and grow in virtue become a reality, instead of just another hope on a never-ending list of competing demands for our time.
Everyone Lives by a Rule of Life
And here’s the kicker. If we don’t prayerfully and intentionally create a rule of life, we still live one anyway. It just happens to be one that is chosen for us by the forces of this world: the powerful digital algorithms that compel us to check our phones first thing in the morning and last thing at night, or the rat race of tasks that never seem to get done, or the chasing of popularity, wealth, pleasure, or romance. All humans live a rule of life. Only some have carefully and prayerfully chosen what it is.
How Can I Write a Rule of Life?
If you’re ready to apply this wonderful tradition to your own life, here are five (somewhat overlapping) categories to get started with.
1. Bodily Needs: What rhythms and practices of physical health and balance do you want to live by? (Think of things like sleep, exercise, diet, play, and rest)
2. Key Relationships: Which relationships are important to prioritize, and what does prioritizing each one look like for you right now?
3. Prayer and Sacraments: In addition to the bare minimums (the five precepts of the Church), which rhythms and practices of prayer, study, and sacraments do you want to live by?
4. Mission: In what ways and to whom are you called to bring the light of faith, hope, and love offered by Jesus? Who are you called to witness to and accompany closer to Christ? What, concretely, does this look like right now?
5. Christian Community: With whom will you share and discuss your rule of life? Who will you talk to about how it is going? How often will you gather with a few other disciples of Jesus to discuss and pray about life, spiritual growth/challenges, and mission?
Start small and build from there. Avoid getting legalistic or scrupulous about it. Give yourself lots of grace, patience, and room to experiment, adapt, and grow. The goal is not to live your rule of life for its own sake. No one is impressing God here. The whole exercise is simply a means toward putting prayerful thought and attention into living out your highest priorities, callings, and relationships as a disciple of Jesus abiding on the vine.
So grab your hammer and nails (or your journal and a pen) and start working on your trellis today!
Andre Lesperance is a Content Creator and Ministry Consultant at the Evangelical Catholic. The Evangelical Catholic’s mission is to equip Catholics to live out the Great Commission. Learn more.
