Brief Rule of St. Romuald
Sit in your cell as in paradise;
cast all memory of the world behind you;
cautiously watch your thoughts, as a good fisherman the fish.
The way is via the psalms – do not leave it. If, in your beginner’s fervor, you fail to do the whole psalter, do a little here and a little there, studying each with your whole mind and spirit, and when your mind wanders during the reading – don’t quit, hurry to refocus;
Place yourself in the presence of God with fear and trembling, as if standing before the emperor;
empty yourself completely;
sit like a baby chick, content with the grace of God, who, unless its mother gives it something , knows nothing and has nothing to eat.
