CHAPTER LXV: CONCERNING THE PROVOST OF THE MONASTERY - 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).
About Liberty Fund:
Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.
Copyright information:
The text is in the public domain.
Fair use statement:
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.
CHAPTER LXV
CONCERNING THE PROVOST OF THE MONASTERY
It happens and indeed somewhat often that grave scandals arise in monasteries through the appointment of a provost, since some there are who, puffed up with malignant spiritual pride, esteeming themselves to be second abbots and assuming to themselves tyrannical power, foster scandals and cause dissensions in the community and especially in those places where the provost himself also is appointed by the same prelate or by the same abbots who appoint the abbot. And it is easy to discover how absurd is such a method of appointment, because from the very first moment of his appointment there is presented to him an incentive to pride in that it is suggested to him by his own thoughts that he is now freed from the authority of his abbot, because “thou hast been appointed by the very same persons by whom the abbot also was appointed.” Hence are stirred up envies, quarrels, detractions, dissensions, jealousies, disorders; and while the abbot and the provost are at variance with one another their souls under this dissension are of necessity endangered; and those who are subject to them through taking sides travel the road to ruin. And the blame for this danger rests primarily upon the authors of such an arrangement.
And so we foresee that it is expedient, for the preservation of peace and charity, that the ordering of his monastery be within the abbot’s discretion. And if it can be done, let the whole of the activity of the monastery be organized through deans as we have above arranged, as the abbot shall appoint, so that since it is entrusted to many no one may become proud. But if either the needs of the place require it, or the community shall have asked reasonably and humbly and the abbot shall have judged it to be expedient, the abbot may himself appoint to be his provost whomsoever with the counsel of God-fearing brethren he shall have chosen. And let the said provost see with reverence to such things as shall have been enjoined him by his abbot, doing nothing contrary to the abbot’s wish or order; for, as much as he has been promoted over the others, by so much it behoves him carefully to observe the precepts of the rule. But if the said provost shall be found culpable, or deceived by the haughtiness of pride, or shall be proved a despiser of the holy rule, let him be admonished by words until the fourth time: if he shall not have amended, let the correction of the discipline of the rule be applied to him. But if even so he be not corrected, then let him be deposed from the rank of provostship and in his place let some other who is worthy be substituted. But if after this also he shall not be quiet and obedient in the community, let him even be expelled from the monastery.
Let the abbot however have in mind that concerning all his decisions he renders account to God, lest haply the flame of envy and jealousy enkindle his mind.
Titles (by Subject) 