Synopsis Fontesque: Regula Magistri—Regula Benedicti (review)

Benedict Guevin, O.S.B, Synopsis Fontesque: Regula Magistri--Regula Benedicti. Regulae Benedicti studi. Supplementa: Supplementa, Bd. 10. St. Ottilien: EOS-Verlag, 1999. Pp. 233. $48.00.

This work provides the corresponding Latin verses of the Regula Magistri and the Regula Benedicti in parallel columns, placing in boldface type the exact verbal correspondences. The author indicates in his introduction that "the Latin texts, with only some modification of punctuation, are taken from the critical editions found in SC 105-106 (RM) and SC 181-182 (RB). In addition, the author places direct citations from the Scriptures in italics, and provides notations concerning biblical allusions. Only those non-biblical sources which are direct citations appear in special framed boxes at the beginning of each appropriate chapter of either rule or both rules, setting these sources apart.

For those who do not have access to a large library of early church sources, this book might be welcomed as a compendium of texts from which the Master and Benedict borrowed for their own respective rules. However, one must use this work with caution. My spot check, particularly of the framed non-biblical sources, found several typographical errors, as well as whole lines of text missing from one citation taken from the Passio Sebastiani 13, Patrologia Latina 17 (see p. 52). In this latter citation, biram aternam (line 4) appears for vitam aeternam; quuod appears for quod (line 18); three lines of text are missing from line 10; and seven words are missing from line 13.

Whenever a citation from a Patrologia Latina source is given, there is no consistency in the column numbering. For example, the Passio Sebastiani 13 actually begins at PL 17.1027a ff. and not PL 17.118-119 (see page 52); again, this same work on page 30 starts at PL 17.1026c, not PL 17.1118, as listed. Yet Caesarius, Regula monachorum 19 does occur in PL 67.1101, as listed on page 73; but this same work and chapter on page 54 is listed as PL 67.1098, but actually only appears in PL 67.1101c.

Some typographical errors may be attributed to orthography changes the author has made to the critical editions. Cases in point include colloqui for conloqui in RB 25.2 (65); antiphonam for antifanam in RB 24.4 (67); and acquirit for adquirit in RB 31.8 (77). Others are definite mistakes, like priumum for primum in Cassianus, Conl. XVIII.4; infernos for inferos in Passio Sebastiani 11 (180); and necessarium for necessaria in Augustinus, Praeceptum V.3 (171). However, the addition of the word creator to a citation from the Passio Sebastiani 14 (43) makes no sense at all. At times a citation which appears in italics contains a word which was not italicized in the critical edition: qui should not be italicized in RB 35.16. At least one citation of a non-biblical source gives the wrong book number: Iuliani Pomerii, De vita contemplativa, is actually from Book II, not Book I, as indicated (195).

Just these few examples of errors suggests that any future editions of this volume need to be proofread rather carefully and corrections made, or at least a corrigenda added to the edition. Its lack of accuracy forces the reader to revert to hard to find editions of works cited.

Mary Forman, O.S.B
Richardton, North Dakota

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