- Be alone in a separate place near a chief city, if your conscience is not prepared to be in common with the crowd.
- Be always naked in imitation of Christ and the Evangelists
- Whatever little or much you possess of anything; whether clothing, or food, or drink, let it be at the command of the senior and at his disposal, for it is not fitting a religious to have any distinction of property with his own free brother.
- Let a fast place with one door enclose you.
- A few religious men/women to converse with you of God and Testaments; to visit you on days of solemnity; to strengthen you in the testaments of God and the narratives of the scriptures.
- A person who would talk to you in idle words, or of the world; or who murmurs at what he/she cannot remedy or prevent, but who would distress you more should he be a tattler between friends and foes, you shall not admit them to you, but at once give them your benediction should they deserve it.
- Let your servant be a discreet, religious, not a tale telling person, who is to attend continually on you with moderate labour of course, but always ready. Yield submission to every rule that is of devotion.
- A mind prepared for red martyrdom [that is death for the faith].
- A mind fortified and steadfast for white martyrdom [that is ascetic practices].
- Forgiveness from the heart of everyone.
- Constant prayers for those who trouble you.
- Fervour in singing the office for the dead as if every faithful dead was a particular friend of yours.
- Hymns for souls to be sung standing.
- Let your vigils be constant from eve to eve under the direction of another person.
- Three labours a day; prayer, work and reading.
- The work to be divided into three parts; your own work and the work of your place as regards its real wants. Secondly the share of your brother/sisters work and lastly to help your neighbours, by instructions or writing, sewing garments or whatever labour they may be in want of [as the Lord says, “You shall not appear before me empty”].
- Everything in its proper order [for no one is crowned except he who has striven lawfully].
- Follow alms giving before all things.
- Take not food until you are hungry.
- Do not sleep until you feel the desire.
- Speak not except on business.
- Every increase which comes to you, in lawful meals or clothing give it for pity to the brethren that want it or to the poor in like manner.
- The love of God with all your heart and all your strength.
- The love of your neighbours as yourself.
- Live in the Testament of God throughout all times.
- The measure of your prayers shall be until your tears come.
- The measure of your work until your tears come.
- The measure of your physical work or your genuflexions until your perspiration comes if your tears are not free.
From The Rule of St. Columba