CHAPTER 23. EXCOMMUNICATION FOR FAULTS
1*If a brother is found to be stubborn or disobedient or proud, if he grumbles or in any way despises the holy rule and defies the orders of his seniors, 2he should be warned twice privately by the seniors in accord with our Lord’s injunction (Matt 18: 15-16). 3If he does not amend, he must be rebuked publicly in the presence of everyone. 4But if even then he does not reform, let him be excommunicated, provided that he understands the nature of this punishment. 5*If however he lacks understanding, let him undergo corporal punishment.
CHAPTER 24. DEGREES OF EXCOMMUNICATION
1* There ought to be due proportion between the seriousness of a fault and the measure of excommunication or discipline. 2*The abbot determines the gravity of faults.
3If a brother is found guilty of less serious faults, he will not be allowed to share the common table. 4*Anyone excluded from the common table will conduct himself as follows: in the oratory he will not lead a psalm or a refrain nor will he recite a reading until he has made satisfaction, 5and he will take his meals alone, after the brothers have eaten. 6For instance, if the brothers eat at noon, he will eat in midafternoon; if the brothers eat in midafternoon, he will eat in the evening, 7until by proper satisfaction he gains pardon.
CHAPTER 25. SERIOUS FAULTS
1A brother guilty of a serious fault is to be excluded from both the table and the oratory. 2No other brother should associate or converse with him at all. 3He will work alone at the tasks assigned to him, living continually in sorrow and penance, pondering that fearful judgment of the Apostle: 4Such a man is handed over for the destruction of his flesh that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord (1 Cor 5:5). 5Let him take his food alone in an amount and at a time the abbot considers appropriate for him. 6He should not be blessed by anyone passing by, nor should the food that is given him be blessed.
CHAPTER 26. UNAUTHORIZED ASSOCIATION WITH THE EXCOMMUNICATED
1If a brother, acting without an order from the abbot, presumes to associate in any way with an excommunicated brother, to converse with him or to send him a message, 2he should receive a like punishment of excommunication.
CHAPTER 27. THE ABBOT’s CONCERN FOR THE EXCOMMUNICATED
1The abbot must exercise the utmost care and concern for wayward brothers, because it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick (Matt 9: 12). 2*Therefore, he ought to use every skill of a wise physician and send in senpectae, that is, mature and wise brothers 3who, under the cloak of secrecy, may support the wavering brother, urge him to be humble as a way of making satisfaction, and console him lest he be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow (2 Cor 2:7). 4Rather, as the Apostle also says: Let love for him be reaffirmed (2 Cor 2:8), and let all pray for him.
5It is the abbot’s responsibility to have great concern and to act with all speed, discernment and diligence in order not to lose any of the sheep entrusted to him. 6He should realize that he has undertaken care of the sick, not tyranny over the healthy. 7Let him also fear the threat of the Prophet in which God says: What you saw to be fat you claimed for yourselves, and what was weak you cast aside (Ezek 34:3-4). 8He is to imitate the loving example of the Good Shepherd who left the ninety-nine sheep in the mountains and went in search of the one sheep that had strayed. 9So great was his compassion for its weakness that he mercifully placed it on his sacred shoulders and so carried it back to the flock (Luke 15:5).
CHAPTER 28. THOSE WHO REFUSE TO AMEND AFTER FREQUENT REPROOFS
1If a brother has been reproved frequently for any fault, or if he has even been excommunicated, yet does not amend, let him receive a sharper punishment: that is, let him feel the strokes of the rod. 2But if even then he does not reform, or perhaps becomes proud and would actually defend his conduct, which God forbid, the abbot should follow the procedure of a wise physician. 3After he has applied compresses, the ointment of encouragement, the medicine of divine Scripture, and finally the cauterizing iron of excommunication and strokes of the rod, 4and if he then perceives that his earnest efforts are unavailing, let him apply an even better remedy: he and all the brothers should pray for him 5so that the Lord, who can do all things, may bring about the health of the sick brother. 6Yet if even this procedure does not heal him, then finally, the abbot must use the knife and amputate. For the Apostle says: Banish the evil one from your midst (1 Cor 5: 13); 7and again, If the unbeliever departs, let him depart (1 Cor 7: 15), 8lest one diseased sheep infect the whole flock.
CHAPTER 29. READMISSION OF BROTHERS WHO LEAVE THE MONASTERY
1 *If a brother, following his own evil ways, leaves the monastery but then wishes to return, he must first promise to make full amends for leaving. 2Let him be received back, but as a test of his humility he should be given the last place. 3If he leaves again, or even a third time, he should be readmitted under the same conditions. After this, however, he must understand that he will be denied all prospect of return.
CHAPTER 30. THE MANNER OF REPROVING BOYS
1Every age and level of understanding should receive appropriate treatment. 2Therefore, as often as boys and the young, or those who cannot understand the seriousness of the penalty of excommunication, 3are guilty of misdeeds, they should be subjected to severe fasts or checked with sharp strokes so that they may be healed.
CHAPTER 31. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE MONASTERY CELLARER
1 *As cellarer of the monastery, there should be chosen from the community someone who is wise, mature in conduct, temperate, not an excessive eater, not proud, excitable, offensive, dilatory or wasteful, 2but God-fearing, and like a father to the whole community. 3He will take care of everything, 4 *but will do nothing without an order from the abbot. 5Let him keep to his orders.
6 *He should not annoy the brothers. 7 *If any brother happens to make an unreasonable demand of him, he should not reject him with disdain and cause him distress, but reasonably and humbly deny the improper request. 8Let him keep watch over his own soul, ever mindful of that saying of the Apostle: He who serves well secures a good standing for himself (1 Tim 3:13). 9He must show every care and concern for the sick, children, guests and the poor, knowing for certain that he will be held accountable for all of them on the day of judgment. 10 *He will regard all utensils and goods of the monastery as sacred vessels of the altar, 11aware that nothing is to be neglected. 12He should not be prone to greed, nor be wasteful and extravagant with the goods of the monastery, but should do everything with moderation and according to the abbot’s orders.
13Above all, let him be humble. If goods are not available to meet a request, he will offer a kind word in reply, 14for it is written: A kind word is better than the best gift (Sir 18:17). 15He should take care of all that the abbot entrusts to him, and not presume to do what the abbot has forbidden. 16 *He will provide the brothers their allotted amount of food without any pride or delay, lest they be led astray. For he must remember what the Scripture says that person deserves who leads one of the little ones astray (Matt 18:6).
17If the community is rather large, he should be given helpers, that with their assistance he may calmly perform the duties of his office. 18Necessary items are to be requested and given at the proper times, 19so that no one may be disquieted or distressed in the house of God.
CHAPTER 32. THE TOOLS AND GOODS OF THE MONASTERY
1The goods of the monastery, that is, its tools, clothing or anything else, should be entrusted to brothers whom the abbot appoints and in whose manner of life he has confidence. 2He will, as he sees fit, issue to them the various articles to be cared for and collected after use. 3 *The abbot will maintain a list of these, so that when the brothers succeed one another in their assigned tasks, he may be aware of what he hands out and what he receives back.
4 *Whoever fails to keep the things belonging to the monastery clean or treats them carelessly should be reproved. 5If he does not amend, let him be subjected to the discipline of the rule.
CHAPTER 33. MONKS AND PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
1 *Abov
e all, this evil practice must be uprooted and removed from the monastery. 2We mean that without an order from the abbot, no one may presume to give, receive 3or retain anything as his own, nothing at all—not a book, writing tablets or stylus—in short, not a single item, 4 *especially since monks may not have the free disposal even of their own bodies and wills. 5 *For their needs, they are to look to the father of the monastery, and are not allowed anything which the abbot has not given or permitted. 6 *All things should be the common possession of all, as it is written, so that no one presumes to call anything his own (Acts 4:32).
7 *But if anyone is caught indulging in this most evil practice, he should be warned a first and a second time. 8If he does not amend, let him be subjected to punishment.
CHAPTER 34. DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS ACCORDING TO NEED
1 *It is written: Distribution was made to each one as he had need (Acts 4:35). 2By this we do not imply that there should be favoritism—God forbid—but rather consideration for weaknesses. 3 *Whoever needs less should thank God and not be distressed, 4but whoever needs more should feel humble because of his weakness, not self-important because of the kindness shown him. 5 *In this way all the members will be at peace. 6First and foremost, there must be no word or sign of the evil of grumbling, no manifestation of it for any reason at all. 7If, however, anyone is caught grumbling, let him undergo more severe discipline.
CHAPTER 35. KITCHEN SERVERS OF THE WEEK
1 *The brothers should serve one another. Consequently, no one will be excused from kitchen service unless he is sick or engaged in some important business of the monastery, 2for such service increases reward and fosters love. 3Let those who are not strong have help so that they may serve without distress, 4and let everyone receive help as the size of the community or local conditions warrant. 5If the community is rather large, the cellarer should be excused from kitchen service, and, as we have said, those should also be excused who are engaged in important business. 6 *Let all the rest serve one another in love.
7On Saturday the brother who is completing his work will do the washing. 8He is to wash the towels which the brothers use to wipe their hands and feet. 9Both the one who is ending his service and the one who is about to begin are to wash the feet of everyone. 10The utensils required for the kitchen service are to be washed and returned intact to the cellarer, 11who in turn issues them to the one beginning his week. In this way the cellarer will know what he hands out and what he receives back.
12An hour before mealtime, the kitchen workers of the week should each receive a drink and some bread over and above the regular portion, 13 *so that at mealtime, they may serve their brothers without grumbling or hardship. 14On solemn days, however, they should wait until after the dismissal.
15*On Sunday immediately after Lauds, those beginning as well as those completing their week of service should make a profound bow in the oratory before all and ask for their prayers. 16Let the server completing his week recite this verse: Blessed are you, Lord God, who have helped me and comforted me (Dan 3:52; Ps 85[86]: 17). 17After this verse has been said three times, he receives a blessing. Then the one beginning his service follows and says: God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me (Ps 69[70]:2). 18And all repeat this verse three times. When he has received a blessing, he begins his service.
CHAPTER 36. THE SICK BROTHERS
1 *Care of the sick must rank above and before all else, so that they may truly be served as Christ, 2for he said: I was sick and you visited me (Matt 25:36), 3and, What you did for one of these least brothers you did for me (Matt 25:40). 4Let the sick on their part bear in mind that they are served out of honor for God, and let them not by their excessive demands distress their brothers who serve them. 5Still, sick brothers must be patiently borne with, because serving them leads to a greater reward. 6Consequently, the abbot should be extremely careful that they suffer no neglect.
7Let a separate room be designated for the sick, and let them be served by an attendant who is God-fearing, attentive and concerned. 8 *The sick may take baths whenever it is advisable, but the healthy, and especially the young, should receive permission less readily. 9 *Moreover, to regain their strength, the sick who are very weak may eat meat, but when their health improves, they should all abstain from meat as usual.
10The abbot must take the greatest care that cellarers and those who serve the sick do not neglect them, for the shortcomings of disciples are his responsibility.
CHAPTER 37. THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN
1Although human nature itself is inclined to be compassionate toward the old and the young, the authority of the rule should also provide for them. 2 *Since their lack of strength must always be taken into account, they should certainly not be required to follow the strictness of the rule with regard to food, 3but should be treated with kindly consideration and allowed to eat before the regular hours.
CHAPTER 38. THE READER FOR THE WEEK
1Reading will always accompany the meals of the brothers. The reader should not be the one who just happens to pick up the book, but someone who will read for a whole week, beginning on Sunday. 2After Mass and Communion, let the incoming reader ask all to pray for him so that God may shield him from the spirit of vanity. 3Let him begin this verse in the oratory: Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise (Ps 50[51]:17), and let all say it three times. 4When he has received a blessing, he will begin his week of reading.
5 *Let there be complete silence. No whispering, no speaking — only the reader’s voice should be heard there. 6 *The brothers should by turn serve one another’s needs as they eat and drink, so that no one need ask for anything. 7 *If, however, anything is required, it should be requested by an audible signal of some kind rather than by speech. 8 *No one should presume to ask a question about the reading or about anything else, lest occasion be given [to the devil] (Eph 4:27; 1 Tim 5:14). 9 *The superior, however, may wish to say a few words of instruction.
10Because of holy Communion and because the fast may be too hard for him to bear, the brother who is reader for the week is to receive some diluted wine before he begins to read. 11Afterward he will take his meal with the weekly kitchen servers and the attendants.
12Brothers will read and sing, not according to rank, but according to their ability to benefit their hearers.
CHAPTER 39. THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FOOD
1For the daily meals, whether at noon or in midafternoon, it is enough, we believe, to provide all tables with two kinds of cooked food because of individual weaknesses. 2In this way, the person who may not be able to eat one kind of food may partake of the other. 3Two kinds of cooked food, therefore, should suffice for all the brothers, and if fruit or fresh vegetables are available, a third dish may also be added. 4A generous pound of bread is enough for a day whether for only one meal or for both dinner and supper. 5In the latter case the cellarer will set aside one third of this pound and give it to the brothers at supper.
6Should it happen that the work is heavier than usual, the abbot may decide—and he will have the authority—to grant something additional, provided that it is appropriate, 7and that above all overindulgence is avoided, lest a monk experience indigestion. 8For nothing is so inconsistent with the life of any Christian as overindulgence. 9Our Lord says: Take care that your hearts are not weighed down with overindulgence (Luke 21:34).
10Young boys should not receive the same amount as their elders, but less, since in all matters frugality is the rule. 11Let everyone, except the sick who are very weak, abstain entirely from eating the meat of four-footed animals.
CHAPTER 40. THE PROPER AMOUNT OF DRINK
1Everyone has his own gift from God, one this and another that (1 Cor 7:7). 2It is, therefore, with some uneasiness that we specify the amount of food and drink for others. 3However, with due regard for the infirmities of the sick, we believe that a half bottle of wine a day is sufficient for each. 4 *But those to whom God gives the strength to abstain must know that they will earn their own
reward.
5 *The superior will determine when local conditions, work or the summer heat indicates the need for a greater amount. He must, in any case, take great care lest excess or drunkenness creep in. 6 *We read that monks should not drink wine at all, but since the monks of our day cannot be convinced of this, let us at least agree to drink moderately, and not to the point of excess, 7for wine makes even wise men go astray (Sir 19:2).
8*However, where local circumstances dictate an amount much less than what is stipulated above, or even none at all, those who live there should bless God and not grumble. 9Above all else we admonish them to refrain from grumbling.
CHAPTER 41. THE TIMES FOR THE BROTHERS’ MEALS
1 *From holy Easter to Pentecost, the brothers eat at noon and take supper in the evening. 2Beginning with Pentecost and continuing throughout the summer, the monks fast until midafternoon on Wednesday and Friday, unless they are working in the fields or the summer heat is oppressive.
3On the other days they eat dinner at noon. 4Indeed, the abbot may decide that they should continue to eat dinner at noon every day if they have work in the fields or if the summer heat remains extreme. 5Similarly, he should so regulate and arrange all matters that souls may be saved and the brothers may go about their activities without justifiable grumbling.
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