The Rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia contains regulations for the communal life of monks. Written before the middle of the 6th century, it is one of the oldest and certainly the most influential religious rules of the Latin Church. It has shaped the concept of monastic life throughout the Middle Ages and remains a foundational text of Christian spirituality to this day. Gernot Krapinger has translated the text anew. Father and church historian Ulrich Faust places it in its historical context. A glossary provides information on specialized terms.