accepting the person of no one, nor showing favor to anyone; but judging each one in truth according to the merits of his daily conduct, let him admonish, exhort, chastise, condemn; or receive, if it so seems useful, those coming to the monastery; or cast out, if necessity so requires, those living ill. II. In the monastery let there be two seniors, to whom, whether the abbot is present or absent, the discipline of all the brothers and all the care of the monastery may pertain; giving themselves turns by days and dividing between themselves the weight and need of the monastery; of whom one shall always be present in the monastery in his time, to give the abbot solace, or attendance to the brothers who arrive;
and to go forth where the common need demands, and to apply diligence concerning all things which pertain to the daily guarding and conduct of the monastery; so that whatever must be done for the service and use of the monastery, they may do without negligence and complaint. The other shall be with the brothers, going out in his time with them to all works and every need, providing that they do nothing against discipline. He, considering all the acts of individuals, if he sees anything done contrary to reason, let him either amend it himself, or report it to the abbot. III.
But he who, according to the order of discipline, by the appointment of the abbot, out of the counsel and will of all the brothers, has been set over the brothers, shall draw to himself all care concerning the discipline of the brothers and the diligence of the monastery, having the power, in the abbot's absence, of doing all the things that the abbot present does. But he shall keep patience, meekness, humility, charity, equity, without respect of persons; so acting that he neither generates weariness for the abbot, nor that the brothers labor under his intemperance. This the senior of the monastery who is set over the brothers shall observe, referring to the abbot all things, or especially those which by himself he was not able to resolve. IV. Let no one receive anything even entrusted by a brother of his own blood:
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nihilincellasuaabsquepraepositijussionequispiamhabeat, nepomaquidemvilissima, etcaeterahujusmodi. V. Operantesverofratresnihilloquantursaeculare: sedautmeditenturea, quaesanctasunt, autcertesilebunt. VI. Quiautemcoquinat, antequamfratresreficiant, nongustabitquidquam. VII. Nemoincellaautindomosuahabeatquidquampraeterea, quaeincommunimonasteriilegepraeceptasunt. VIII. Cumqueaddormiendumsecollocaverint, alteralterinonloquatur. Cellamalterius, nisipriusadostiumpercutiat, introirenonaudeat. IX. Mutaredehis, quaeapraepositoacceperitcumalterononaudebit. Necaccipiatmelius, etdabitdeterius;
let no one have anything in his cell without the order of the provost, not even the cheapest fruits, and other things of this kind. V. But the brothers while working shall speak nothing worldly: rather let them either meditate upon the things that are holy, or assuredly keep silence. VI. But he who cooks shall taste nothing before the brothers take refreshment. VII. Let no one have in his cell or in his house anything besides those things which are commanded in the common law of the monastery. VIII. And when they have laid themselves down to sleep, let one not speak to another. Let no one dare to enter another's cell, unless he first knock at the door. IX. He shall not dare to exchange with another any of the things he has received from the provost. Nor let him receive the better and give the worse;
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autecontrariodansmeliusetdeteriusaccipiens. Nemoabalteroaccipiatquidpiam, nisipraepositusjusserit. X. Clausacellanullusdormiat; nechabeatcubiculumquodclaudipossit; nisiforteaetatialicujusvelinfirmitatipatermonasteriiconcesserit. XI. Nemoaterrasolvatfuniculumabsquejussionepatris. Quiinmonasteriofratruminveneritquidpiam, suspendat, uttollatquicognoverit. XII. Adcollectametadpsallendumnullussibioccasioneminveniat, quibussedicatoccupatumquasiirenonpossit. Etsiinmonasterio, velinagro, autinitinere, autinquolibetministeriofuerit, orandietpsallenditempusnonpraetermittat. XIII.
or on the contrary, giving the better and receiving the worse. Let no one receive anything from another, unless the provost has ordered it. X. Let no one sleep in a closed cell; nor let him have a chamber that can be closed; unless perhaps the father of the monastery has granted it to someone on account of age or infirmity. XI. Let no one loose a cord from the ground without the order of the father. He who finds anything in the monastery of the brothers, let him hang it up, so that whoever recognizes it may take it. XII. Let no one find for himself an occasion at the collect and at the chanting, by which he may say he is occupied as if he could not go. And whether he be in the monastery, or in the field, or on a journey, or in any ministry whatever, let him not pass over the time of praying and chanting. XIII.
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Quiministerest, habeatstudiumnequidoperispereatinmonasterio. Inqualicumqueomninoartequaeexerceturafratribus, siquidperierit, etpernegligentiamfueritdissipatum, increpeturapatreministeroperum: etipseiterumincrepetalium, quiopusperdiderit; duntaxatjuxtavoluntatemetpraescientiamprincipis, absquequonullusincrepandifratremhabebitpotestatem. XIV. Siinventusfueritunusefratribusaliquidpercontentionemagens, velcontradicensmajorisimperio, increpabiturjuxtamensurampeccatisui. XV.
He who is a minister, let him have zeal that no work perish in the monastery. In whatever craft at all that is practiced by the brothers, if anything has perished and through negligence has been wasted, let the minister of the works be reproved by the father: and let him in turn reprove the other who lost the work; only according to the will and foreknowledge of the chief, without whom no one shall have power of reproving a brother. XIV. If one of the brothers is found doing anything through contention, or contradicting the command of his superior, he shall be reproved according to the measure of his sin. XV.
He who lies, or is caught hating anyone, or is disobedient, or given to jesting more than is honorable, or idle, or answering harshly, or having a habit of disparaging the brothers, or those who are outside; and in general whatever is contrary to the rule of the Scriptures and the discipline of the monastery, and the father of the monastery hears of it, he shall punish it according to the measure and character of the sin. XVI. If all the brothers see the provost being too negligent or reproving the brothers harshly, and exceeding the measure of the monastery, let them report this to the father, and let him be reproved by him. But the provost himself shall do nothing except what the father has ordered; especially in a new matter. Whatever has come down from custom, he shall keep the rule of the monastery. XVII.
But let the provost not become drunk, nor sit in lower places. Let him not break the bonds which God established in heaven, that they may be observed on earth. Let him not mourn on the feast day of the Lord the Savior. Let him rule his own flesh, according to the measure of the saints. Let him not be found in lofty beds, imitating the custom of the gentiles. Let him not be of double faith. Let him not follow the thoughts of his own heart, but the law of God. Let him not resist with a swollen mind the higher Powers. Let him not rage, nor snarl in anger against those lower than himself: nor remove the boundaries of the Rule. Let him not be fraudulent, nor turn over deceits in his thoughts; nor neglect the sin of his own soul; nor be overcome by the lust of the flesh. Let him not walk negligently. Let him not speak an idle word.
Let him not place a stumbling block before the feet of the blind. Let him not teach his own soul to follow its will. Let him not be dissolved in the laughter and jesting of fools. Let not his heart be captured by those who speak foolish and sweet things. Let him not be overcome by gifts: let him not be led by the speech of little ones. Let him not fail in tribulation. Let him not fear death, but God: let him not be a transgressor on account of impending fear. Let him not abandon the true light on account of scanty food. Let him not waver and fluctuate in his works. Let him not change his sentence, but be firm and of solid decree; just, considering all things; judging in truth without appetite for glory; manifest to God and to men, and far from fraud. Let him not be ignorant of the conduct of his own people, nor be blind to the knowledge of them.
Let him harm no one through pride; nor let him follow the lusts of the eyes. Let him never pass over the truth: let him hate injustice. Let him never judge according to the person for the sake of gifts, nor condemn an innocent soul through pride. Let him not laugh among boys: let him not abandon the truth, overcome by fear. Let him not despise those who are in need of mercy. Let him not abandon justice on account of weariness; lest he lose his own soul on account of shame: let him not look upon the dishes of a more sumptuous table: nor desire beautiful garments; nor neglect himself, but always discern his own thoughts. Let him not become drunk with wine; but let him have truth joined to humility. When he judges, let him follow the precepts of his elders and the law of God, which has been preached in the whole world. XVIII.
If any of the brothers is caught gladly laughing and playing with boys, and having friendships of tender age, let him be admonished three times, that he withdraw from intimacy with them, and be mindful of decency and of the fear of God: if he does not cease, let him be corrected, as he deserves, with the most severe correction. XIX. Those who despise the precepts of their elders and the rules of the monastery, which have been established by God's command, and who hold lightly the counsels of the seniors, let them be corrected according to the established order, until they are corrected. XX. The seniors who are sent outside with the brothers shall, as long as they are there, have the right of provosts, and all things shall be governed by their judgment. They shall teach the brothers on appointed days;
and if perhaps among them some quarrel has arisen, those seniors themselves shall hear it, and shall judge the matter, and shall reprove the one worthy of blame; so that at their command they may at once join together in peace with a full heart. XXI. If any brother has sadness against his provost, or the provost himself has any complaint against a brother; brothers of proven conduct and faith ought to hear them, and shall judge between them. If, however, the father of the monastery is absent or has set out somewhere, first indeed they shall wait for him: but if they see him tarrying outside too long, then they shall hear the case between the provost and the brother; lest, with judgment long suspended, a greater sadness arise;
so that both he who is set over others, and he who is subject, and those who obey, may do all things according to the fear of God, and give no occasion of discord in anything. XXII. Let no one be sent out alone on any business. But those who are sent should walk not singly, but two or three together, so that while they guard and console one another, both their elders may rest secure concerning their honorable conduct, and they themselves may not be endangered. Yet they must observe this: that they do not corrupt one another with empty tales, nor give place to negligence and ruin; but let each one be attentive to his own task, as the occasion may require. XXIII.
But when they have returned to the monastery, if before the gate they see anyone seeking one of their relatives among those who dwell in the monastery, they shall not be permitted to go to him, and to announce or to summon him. And in no way shall they presume to relate within the monastery whatever they have done outside. XXIV. All shall have leave to read until the third hour: provided that no cause arises by which it is necessary that something else also be done. But if after the third hour anyone, through pride, negligence, or sloth intervening, fails to keep what has been appointed, as it is written, let him know that when he is caught in this fault he is to be judged guilty, because through his own error he leads others also into vice. XXV.
Let it be the care of the cellarer that, zealous for abstinence and sobriety, he diligently and faithfully keep the things brought into the monastery for the brethren's sustenance: receiving nothing and handing over nothing without authority or the counsel of the elders. He shall also guard all the utensils that are in the monastery, that is, clothing, vessels, ironware, and whatever is necessary for daily use; and bringing out each thing when needed, he is to receive it back again for storage from the one to whom he entrusted it for use. For the brethren's food let him bring out and deliver provisions to the weekly servers: for seasoning the dishes let him give what is necessary according to the daily custom of expenditure, neither lavishly nor stingily;
lest by his fault either the substance of the monastery be burdened, or the brethren suffer injury. But considering also the need and labor of the sick brethren, let him deny nothing from what he has to the desires of the ailing, as much as is necessary for them. For brethren arriving from various places he shall prepare food. This shall be the care of the keeper of the cellar, always having recourse to the counsel of the elders, and inquiring about all things, but especially about those which he cannot accomplish by his own understanding. XXVI. Let it be the porter's care to receive all who arrive within the gates; giving them an honorable answer with humility and reverence, and at once announcing either to the abbot or to the elders who has come and what he has asked. And let no stranger suffer injury;
nor let him have occasion and opportunity of speaking with any of the brethren apart from the abbot's knowledge or the presence of the elders. But if anything is sent or commanded to any one of the brethren, let nothing reach him before it has been disclosed to the abbot or the elders. Above all the porter of the monastery shall observe this: that he permit no one of the brethren to go out beyond the gate. XXVII. If anyone comes to the gate desiring to renounce the world and to be joined to the number of the brethren, let him not have liberty to enter; but first let it be announced to the father of the monastery, and he shall remain a few days outside before the gate, and shall be taught the Lord's Prayer and the Psalms, as many as he is able to learn;
and he shall diligently give proof of himself, lest perchance he has done some evil deed, so that being troubled for the moment he has departed out of fear, or lest he be under some authority; and whether he is able to renounce his parents and to despise his own property. If they see him fit for all things, then he shall also be taught the rest of the monastery's disciplines; what he ought to do, whom he is to serve, whether in the assembly of all the brethren, or in the house to which he is to be assigned, or in the order of eating: so that, instructed and made perfect in every good work, he may be joined to the brethren. This the keeper of the gate shall observe, reporting all things as is written above, and announcing them to the elders. XXVIII.
Let the weekly servers be always ready to prepare food, or to trim the lamps, or to do the cleaning, and whatever pertains to the service and use of the monastery. Let no other necessity occupy these men, but let them devote their zeal to this, that they may usefully and diligently fulfill the task undertaken. And if perchance they do not know anything concerning what they ought to do, let them always without dissembling ask their elders. XXIX. These, therefore, to whom is entrusted the discipline, or the utility, or the repute, or the service of the monastery, let them faithfully keep and fulfill the offices laid upon them. For it is not fitting that those should err who have been set over others to correct all errors.
And if through pride, negligence, or sloth they neglect any of these things which are contained in the Rule; and through those very men by whom edification ought to grow, ruin should begin: they shall be subject to all the condemnations which the Rule contains. XXX. Among all the brethren this shall be observed: that being obedient to their elders, and deferring to one another, they have patience, moderation, humility, charity, peace without pretense and falsehood, and without cursing, talkativeness, and the habit of swearing. So that no one claims anything as his own, nor does any one usurp anything as private property; but let them have all things in common. XXXI. Without the word and authority of the elders let none of the brethren do anything:
neither let him receive anything, nor give; nor go forth anywhere at all. XXXII. But when a fault has been discovered, he who is found guilty shall be corrected by the abbot in private. But if this does not suffice for amendment, let him be corrected by a few of the elders. But if not even thus he amends, let him be excommunicated, and eat nothing. And if not even this profits him, in whatever place he is, let him be placed last of all in the order of chanting. But if he persists in wickedness, let even the faculty of chanting be taken from him. And if not even this disgrace moves him, let him be kept from the company of the brethren; so that he is present neither at the table nor at the Mass, nor does any of the younger brethren speak with him.
He shall be kept apart for as long as either the nature of the fault demands, according to the judgment of the abbot and the elders; or until he has humbled himself, repenting from the heart for his fault, and has asked pardon for his error before all who are present. But if he has sinned against a brother, let him also ask pardon from that brother to whom he did the injury. XXXIII. If anyone consents to his error, and according to that man's hardness rather gives counsel that he humble himself more slowly, let him know that when he is caught in this error, he is to be judged guilty in like manner. XXXIV. This also had to be added: that a brother who is reproved or rebuked for any fault should have patience, and not answer back the one reproving him: but let him humble himself in all things, and amend. XXXV.
But if anyone is so hard and so estranged from the fear of the Lord that with so many chastisements and so many remissions he does not amend, let him be cast out of the monastery and held as a stranger: lest by his fault others be endangered. XXXVI. But if anyone has spoken or laughed while eating, let him be rebuked, and let him do penance. XXXVII. If anyone comes too late to eat without the command of a superior, let him likewise do penance, or return fasting to his cell. XXXVIII. If anything is needed at the table, no one shall dare to speak, but shall give a sign by sound to those serving. But the servers shall eat nothing other than what has been prepared in common for the brethren, nor shall they dare to prepare different food for themselves. XXXIX.
No one shall give more to another than the other has received; but if infirmity is alleged, the superior of the house shall go to the servers of the sick, and shall receive from them the things that are necessary. XL. When some come to the gate of the monastery, if they are clergy or monks, they shall be received with greater honor: their feet shall be washed, according to the precept of the Gospel, and there shall be provided for them all things that are suited to the use of monks. XLI. If anyone comes to the gate of the monastery, saying that he wishes to see his brother or kinsman, the porter shall announce it to the abbot, and with his permission shall take a companion whose faithfulness has been proved; and thus he shall be sent to see his brother or kinsman. XLII.
If anyone's kinsman has died, he shall not have permission to follow the funeral procession, unless the father of the monastery has so directed. XLIII. Let no one take vegetables from the garden, unless he has received them from the gardener. XLIV. Let no one speak to another in the dark; let no one sleep on the same mat with another; let no one hold another's hand: but whether he stands, or walks, or sits, let him be a cubit's distance from another. XLV. If anyone takes a thing not his own, it shall be placed upon his shoulders; and thus let him do penance publicly in the assembly. XLVI. If a superior has judged unjustly, he shall be condemned for his injustice by others. XLVII. He who consents to sins, and defends another who is doing wrong, shall be cursed before God and men, and shall be corrected with the severest rebuke.