15876. SILENCE AND THE "WORK OF GOD" IN ST. BENEDICT'S RULE. Benedictine monks must follow certain rules regarding silence and the conditions under which they are allowed to speak. This paper argues that the reason for these rules is to avoid distractions to thus enable the monks to concentrate on their primary task: the "work of God" (as expressed through prayer and contemplation). 6 pages; 15 footnotes; 4 bibliographic sources.