This men’s group is based on Lectio Divina or spiritual reading, a traditional Christian practice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to promote communion with God and to increase in the knowledge of God's Word. The tradition, founded by Saint Benedict in the 5th century, was one of the three elements in the daily life of a Benedictine monastery along with liturgical prayer and manual labor. Begun at St. John’s this past year, the group has met bi-weekly and started its study with The Rule of Saint Benedict. Each member of the group led one session over the course of the study. Very appropriately, the Rule, which addresses the needs of   monks living in a community environment and has been in use by Benedictines for fifteen centuries, emphasized the need to establish order, respect and support for one   another and to provide a spiritual leader to encourage and strengthen each   individual’s spiritual growth. More than learning about the Rule, the members learned about each other and have also established their own rule of order, respect and mutual   support.