Reading for: August, 16
Chapter 61: How Pilgrim Monks Are To Be Received
“But if as a guest she was found exacting or prone to vice, not only should she be denied membership in the community, but she should even be politely requested to leave, lest others be corrupted by her evil life.
If, however, she has not proved to be the kind who deserves to be put out, she should not only on her own application be received as a member of the community, but she should even be persuaded to stay, that the others may be instructed by her example, and because in every place it is the same Lord who is served, the same King for whom the battle is fought.
Moreover, if the Abbess perceives that she is worthy, she may put her in a somewhat higher rank. [And not only with regard to a nun but also with regard to those in priestly or clerical orders previously mentioned, ontime=”00:00:01” offtime=”23:59:59′]* the Abbess may establish them in a higher rank than would be theirs by date of entrance if she perceives that their life is deserving.
Let the Abbess take care, however, never to receive a nun from another known monastery as a member of her community without the consent of her Abbess or a letter of recommendation; for it is written, “Do not to another what you would not want done to yourself” (Tob. 4:16).
*[Applicable only to women of some contemporary monastic communities in the Anglican Communion. ontime=”00:00:01″ offtime=”23:59:59′]”
Note: To be inclusive, the even-numbered chapters below have been adapted for a women’s community and the odd-numbered chapters are for a men’s community.
Selections above from Saint Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries, translated from the Latin by Leonard J. Doyle OblSB, of Saint John’s Abbey, (© Copyright 1948, 2001, by the Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, MN 56321). Adapted for use here with the division into sense lines of the first edition that was republished in 2001 to mark the 75th anniversary of Liturgical Press. Doyle’s translation is available in both hardcover and paperback editions.
Benedict’s Rule: A Translation and Commentary by Terrence G. Kardong, O.S.B. is the first line-by-line exegesis of the entire Rule of Benedict written originally in English. This full commentary — predominately literary and historical criticism — is based on and includes a Latin text of Regula Benedicti (Liturgical Press).
RB 1980 in Latin and English with Notes is a modern, scholarly translation ed. by Timothy Fry, OSB (Liturgical Press, 1981), 672 p. The translation by itself is also available in paperback.
