Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/183

 vn] WESTERN MONASTICISM 165 SO it needed a definite law authoritatively prescribed. The rule of Caesarius of Aries was such ; but it was too short, and left much unprovided for.^ The rule of Columban lacked definite directions for the details of daily living, and was excessive in its ascetic demands. Benedict's rule was wise and temperate, definite and explicit in its regulations for the guidance of the monk through each hour of the night and day. Where the regula of Benedict differed from any of these writings, it differed by containing more of the distinguishing qualities of the Latin West. It embod- ied and expressed these in so far as they were passing into monasticism. The Roman qualities which made the Roman law practical, definite, orderly, and compre- hensible, appear in Benedict's regula, and distinguish it from the regulae of Basil. The authoritativeness of Rome distinguished Benedict's regula from the In- stitutes and Conlationes of Cassian ; it was law and not discussion. Its sufficiency of detail and clear definiteness made it practical and Roman, while dis- tinguishing it from the regulae of Augustine, Caesarius, and Columban. And Benedict's regula was sufficiently strict, sufficiently stern, and adapted to the character and needs of Western monasticism. Few writings can be compared with it for effective combination of re- ligious precept and practical direction. Discretione praecipua, sermone luculentaf is Gregory's comment on Potent influences made for its dominance ; it was 1 It is not over two folio pages in length. See Holstenios, Codez Regularum, I, pp. 145-147; Migne, Patr. Lat., 67, col. 1098. • IHahg., II, Chap. 36.