Lenten Observance

from Benedict's Rule: a Translation and Commentary by Terrence G. Kardong (1996):
RB 48 (excerpt):
"During the days of Lent, in the morning they should be free for their readings until the end of the third hour, and they are to work until the end of the tenth hour at what has been assigned them.  In these Lenten days, they should each receive a separate fascicle of the Bible, which they are to read straight through to the end.  These books are to be given out at the beginning of Lent" (pages 382-3).

RB 49 (The Observance of Lent):
"At all times the lifestyle of a monk ought to have a Lenten quality.  However, because few have that kind of strength, we urge them to guard their lives with all purity during these Lenten days.  All should work together at effacing during this holy season the negligences of other times.  The proper way to do this is to restrain ourselves from all evil and to devote ourselves to tearful prayer, reading, compunction of heart and asceticism (Leo I sermon on Lent).  Therefore in these days, we should increase the regular measure of our service in the form of special prayers and abstinence from food and drink.  In that way each one, of his own free will with the joy of the Holy Spirit (I Thess. 1:6), can offer God something beyond what is imposed on him.  Let him deny his body some food, some drink, some sleep, some chatter, some joking, and let him await Holy Easter with the joy of spiritual desire" (page 402 and notes thereafter).