Becoming a Community of Disciples

Chapter 2: Legislative Teachings – The Role of the Abbot

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sending senpectae , that is older and wise brothers, 3 who can, as it were in secret, console the wavering brother and convince him to make humble satisfaction, thus comforting him, lest he be devoured by excessive sorrow (2 Cor 2:7); 4 rather, as the apostle also says, Let love towards him be intensified (2 Cor 2:8) and let all pray for him. 5 With the greatest possible solicitude the Abbot should hasten to employ all wisdom and diligence so as not to lose any one of the sheep entrusted to him. 6 For he should know that he has undertaken to care for weak souls, not to exercise tyranny over the strong; 7 and he ought to fear the threat of the prophet in which God says: What you saw to be fat you took for yourselves, and what was injured you cast away (Ezek 34:3–4). 8 And he should imitate the loving example of the good shepherd, who, leaving the ninety-nine sheep on the mountains, went to seek the one which had lost its way: 9 its weakness inspired such compassion that He deigned 3 to place it on His own sacred shoulders and thus carry it back to the flock (Luke 15:5). 1 He who for more serious faults has been excommunicated from both the oratory 4 and the table is, at the end of the hour for the celebration of the Work of God, to cast himself prostrate before the entrance to the oratory, saying nothing: 2 without asking anything, he is to lie face down, prone on the ground at the feet of all as they leave the oratory; 3 and he is to do this until the Abbot judges that satisfaction ThoseWho Are Excommunicated— HowThey Are to Make Satisfaction (RBen §44)

3 Deign – humble oneself. 4 Oratory – the place of prayer; a chapel.