On the Hill

A 16^th-century copy of The Rule of St. Benedict sits at the entrance of the Saint Meinrad Archabbey Library, serving as a vision of purpose for those who visit and live on the Hill.

This copy of The Rule was acquired in May of 2024, gifted to the monastery and the library by Felicia and John Ferrara.

Dan Kolb, the library director, states that “By putting The Rule front and center in our library, we hope to make a statement about the purpose of our lives here on the Hill and the basic values by which we live, study, and pray.”

The book was produced for Abbot Georg of Schuttern Abbey in 1593. Kolb said, “The book is beautifully made, using fine materials.” The entire Rule is written twice by scribes, once in Latin and then in German. The Latin version is decorated at the beginning of each chapter with the addition of red, blue, and green flourishes. The text of The Rule is preceded by a section on the Rites of Monastic Profession and succeeded by Rites for the Bishop’s (or Abbot’s) Observance of the Mass. The book retains its original fine, decorated leather binding.

The quality of the book attests to the fine craftsmanship of the monks working in the Schuttern scriptorium. The Schuttern Abbey scriptorium was renowned and a significant source of income for the monastery. Schuttern Abbey, founded in the 7th century, was the third largest monastery in Germany during the Middle Ages. It was suppressed in 1803 after the Napoleonic Wars.

Each month a different chapter of The Rule is put on display in the library. Alongside The Rule is a translation of the chapter from The Saint Meinrad Translation of The Rule as well as notes on Schuttern Abbey. All are welcome to view The Rule along with many other rare books displayed in the library.