Benedict of Nursia (480-547) organized Western monasticism. He wrote a 'Rule for Monks', describing how things should be done in a monastery. This Rule is still in use today. Here are a few excerpts.

Chapter 6:
Restraint of Speech
Let us follow the Prophet’s counsel: "I said, I have resolved to keep watch over my ways that I may never sin with my tongue. I was silent and was humbled, and I refrained even from good words." Here the Prophet indicates that there are times when good words are to be left unsaid out of esteem for silence.

For all the more reason, then,should evil speech be curbed so that punishment for sin may be avoided. Indeed, so important is silence that permission to speak should seldom be granted even to mature disciples, no matter how good or holy or constructive their talk, because it is written: "In a flood of words you will not avoid sin", and elsewhere: "The tongue holds the key to life and death."

Chapter 20:
Reverence in Prayer
Whenever we want to ask some favor of a powerful man, we do it humbly and respectfully, for fear of presumption. How much more important, then, to lay our petitions before the Lord God of all things with the utmost humility and sincere devotion. We must know that God regards our purity of heart and tears of compunction, not our many words. Prayer should therefore be short and pure, unless perhaps it is prolonged under the inspiration of divine grace. In community, however, prayer should always be brief; and when the superior gives the signal, all should rise together..

Chapter 72:
The Good Zeal of Monks
Just as there is a wicked zeal of bitterness which separates from God and leads to hell, so there is a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This, then, is the good zeal which monks must foster with fervent love: they should each try to be the first to show respect to the other; supporting with the greatest patience one another’s weaknesses of body or behavior, and earnestly competing in obedience to one another. No one is to pursue what he judges better for himself, but instead, what he judges better for someone else. To their fellow monks they show the pure love of brothers; to God, loving fear.

> Up