CHAPTER LXIII: CONCERNING THE ORDER OF THE COMMUNITY - Saint Benedict, The Rule of St. Benedict [1931]
Edition used:
The Rule of St. Benedict, translated into English. A Pax Book, preface by W.K. Lowther Clarke (London: S.P.C.K., 1931).
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CHAPTER LXIII
CONCERNING THE ORDER OF THE COMMUNITY
Let all keep their relative places in the monastery according as the time of each one’s conversion or the merit of each one’s life determines, or as the abbot shall have decided. And let not the abbot disquiet the flock committed to him, nor let him make any unjust arrangement as if using an authority wholly unrestricted, but let him always bear in mind that concerning all his judgments and deeds he is going to render account to God. Therefore according to the places he shall have assigned them, or which they shall hold by seniority, so let the brethren proceed for the Pax, for Communion, for intoning a psalm, for taking their place in choir. And nowhere at all let the subject of age determine or even suggest their relative places, for Samuel and David when mere boys judged those advanced in years. Therefore, those excepted whom, as we have said, the abbot shall have promoted for weighty reason or shall have degraded for certain causes, let all the rest as they are one by one converted, so take their places, so that, for example, he who shall have come into the monastery at the second hour of a day shall know himself to be junior to him who came at the first hour of that day, of whatever age or dignity he may be. But the discipline of authority towards children is to be universally observed by all.
Let therefore juniors by position honour those placed above them: let those placed above love their juniors. In the matter of addressing one another by name let it be lawful for no one to address another simply by name, but let those placed above designate their juniors “Fratres,” and juniors call those placed above them “Nonnos” which is understood as in paternal reverence: but let the abbot, because he is seen to represent Christ, be called “Domnus” and “Abbas,” not as having taken it upon himself, but for honour and love of Christ. But let him be mindful and so behave himself that he be worthy of such honour. And wherever the brethren meet one another, let the junior seek blessing from the one placed above him: and when a senior pass along, let the junior rise and give him room to sit and let not the junior presume to sit together with him unless the senior so direct him, so as to carry out what is written: “In honour preferring one another.” Let the younger and elder boys alike go to their places in the oratory or at table in an orderly manner. And out of doors or indeed anywhere at all let them have proper care and discipline until they reach the age of understanding.
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