Becoming a Community of Disciples

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Becoming a Community of Disciples

7 In everything, therefore, all are to follow the Rule as their master: from it no one at all should have the temerity 2 to turn aside. 8 No one in the monastery may follow the will of his own heart, 9 nor may any presume to brashly contend with his Abbot, whether within or outside the monastery. 10 But if he presumes to do so, let him be subjected to the discipline of the Rule. 11 Moreover, the Abbot himself must do everything in the fear of God, observing the Rule, knowing that without any doubt an account of all his judgments must be rendered to that most impartial judge, God. 12 If less important matters are to be done for the good of the monastery, he is to take counsel only with the seniors, 13 as it is written: Do all things with counsel, and you will not afterwards repent of it (Sir 32:24). ThoseWho, without Permission, Associate with the Excommunicated (RBen §26) 1 If a brother presumes without permission from the Abbot to associate in any way with an excommunicated brother, or to speak with him, or to send him a message, 2 he will incur the same kind of punishment of excommunication.

The Kind of Care the Abbot Should Have for the Excommunicated (RBen §27)

1 It is with all solicitude that the Abbot should care for delinquent brothers, for it is not the healthy who have need of a physician, but those who are sick (Matt 9:12). 2 And thus he should in every way act as a wise physician,

2 Temerity – nerve.