Living the Rule of St David

An ancient Welsh saint. A Benedictine rhythm. A thoroughly modern way to live consecrated life, without leaving your ordinary life behind.

Living the Rule of St David: A Guide to Consecrated Life in the World is an accessible, spiritually rich resource for anyone drawn to deeper Christian commitment while remaining fully engaged in work, family, and everyday responsibilities. Written as a companion to the Rule of St Benedict and shaped by the “Davidic-Benedictine” charism, it offers a realistic path of holiness rooted in prayer, simplicity, stability, and joyful perseverance.

At the heart of the book are St David’s famous final words—“Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things”, unpacked not as a slogan, but as a complete spiritual programme for modern discipleship.

What you’ll find inside

• A clear introduction to consecrated life in the world through the vocation of a secular institute, fully consecrated, fully “in the world.”

• The life and legacy of St David of Wales, including the spirituality of simplicity, discipline, and joyful fidelity that shaped a nation’s faith.

• A grounding in St Benedict and the monastic tradition, showing how ancient monastic wisdom becomes practical scaffolding for everyday life.

• The Order’s distinctive vows: Rootedness, Wholehearted Devotion, and Faithful Service, and what they look like in real daily practice, especially when prayer is dry and life is busy.

• A detailed, workable rule of prayer: a minimum of one hour daily (including the Liturgy of the Hours, mental prayer, and spiritual reading), plus rhythms of week and year that can be rebuilt when life disrupts them.

• Practical guidance for modern pressures, from consumerism and distraction to digital noise, translated into a disciplined but humane spiritual life.

• The Sayings of St David in English and Welsh, each with spiritual commentary and suggestions for using them in lectio divina and daily prayer.

• Frequently asked questions and a gentle roadmap of formation, from first enquiry through postulancy, novitiate, and profession, ideal for readers discerning vocation or seeking a structured spiritual path.

Whether you are exploring consecrated life, hungry for a steadier prayer rule, or simply longing for a spirituality that sanctifies ordinary duties, this book invites you into a tradition where holiness is built, quietly and faithfully, through small acts of love.