In this premiere episode of Everyday Catholic History, Fallon Tridento takes you inside one of the most influential institutions in Church history: the monastery. Discover how St. Benedict’s Rule shaped Western civilization, how monks preserved ancient knowledge, and why monastic life still matters today. From chanting psalms to brewing beer, this episode explores the quiet rhythm that helped rebuild the world after Rome fell — and continues to inspire believers today.

Primary Sources

• The Rule of St. Benedict
(Solemas Abbey):
https://www.solesmes.com/sites/default/files/upload/pdf/rule_of_st_benedict.pdf

• St. Basil the Great — Ascetical Works
(Catholic University of America Press):
https://www.cuapress.org/9780813210261/ascetical-works/

• Writings of St. Pachomius (Pachomian Koinonia, vols. 1–3)
(Cistercian Publications):
https://litpress.org/Products/CF003/Pachomian-Koinonia-Volume-One

Monastic History & Spirituality

• Marilyn Dunn — The Emergence of Monasticism
(Blackwell Publishing):
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9780470754580

• Columba Stewart, OSB — Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition
(Orbis / Liturgical Press):
https://search.worldcat.org/title/38993058

• Jean Leclercq, OSB — The Love of Learning and the Desire for God
(Fordham University Press):
https://fordhampress.com/the-love-of-learning-and-the-desire-for-god-pb-9780823204076.html

Preservation of Knowledge & Medieval Learning

• Thomas Cahill — How the Irish Saved Civilization
(Anchor Books / Penguin Random House):
https://www.amazon.com/How-Irish-Saved-Civilization-Irelands/dp/0385418493

• Christopher de Hamel — Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts
(Penguin Press):
https://www.amazon.com/Meetings-Remarkable-Manuscripts-Journeys-Medieval/dp/1594206112

Divine Office / Liturgy of the Hours

• Vatican II — Sacrosanctum Concilium (Official Vatican Text):
https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

• General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours
(USCCB):
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgy-of-the-hours

Modern Monastic Life

• Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (New Mount Carmel Project)
Official monastery website:
https://www.carmelitemonks.org

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Did you know Catholic monks once helped preserve civilization? Or that saints, scholars, and even ordinary believers have shaped art, science, and culture in ways that still echo today?

I’m Fallon, and this is Everyday Catholic History — the show that uncovers how faith has quietly formed our world, from the quiet corners of daily life to the turning points of history.

Each week, we’ll explore the people, traditions, and ideas that continue to inspire the Church — and the world — today.

Subscribe now and discover the faith-shaped stories hidden in plain sight.

If you enjoy this show, please leave a review, share an episode with a friend, or follow along at @CatholicVoicesMedia.