Do not grumble,” St. Benedict tells his monks. (RB 4:39)

The first time he mentions this is in the fourth chapter of his rule for monasteries.

He goes on to address grumbling, murmuring, or complaining in another eight chapters of the rule. Why does he mention this issue so many times? Are monks, crotchety, curmudgeonly complainers by nature? Or did St. Benedict know something about human nature? Whether we live in a monastery or a metropolis, we can all learn why we shouldn’t grumble from the “Father of Western Monasticism.”

Do Not Grumble: It’s In Scripture

Actually, St. Benedict wasn’t the first person to tell us, “Do not grumble,” or that we shouldn’t complain or murmur. We can find numerous passages in Scripture telling us something similar. Consider the following, for example:

“Do all things without grumbling or questioning …” (Phil 2:14)

“Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the doors.” (James 5:9)

“Be hospitable to one another without complaining.” (1 Peter 4:9)