Apr 29;  Aug 29;  Dec 29

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CHAPTER 71: THAT THEY SHOULD OBEY ONE ANOTHER

LXXI. UT OBOEDIENTES SIBI SINT INVICEM

¹ NOT only is the blessing of obedience to be shown by all to the abbot; ² the brothers must also obey one another, knowing that by this path of obedience they go to God.  ³ The commands, therefore, of the abbot or the superiors appointed by him (to which we allow no unofficial orders to be preferred) are to  be given precedence.  ⁴ For the rest let all the younger brothers obey their elders with all love and courtesy. 

^l Oboedientiae bonum non solum abbati exhibendum est ab omnibus, sed etiam sibi invicem ita oboediant fratres, ² scientes per hanc oboedientiae viam se ituros ad Deum. ³ Praemisso ergo abbatis aut praepositorum qui ab eo constituuntur imperio, cui non permittimus privata imperia praeponi, ⁴ de cetero omnes iuniores prioribus suis omni caritate et sollicitudine oboediant.

    ⁵ Anyone who is found to be quarrelsome is to be corrected. ⁶ If anyone is rebuked by the abbot or by any superior in any way for however small a cause, ⁷ or if he comes to believe that any superior is angered or perplexed about him, however trivially; ⁸ he should immediately and without delay cast himself on the ground at his feet, remaining there to do penance until the turmoil is healed by the other's blessing.  ⁹ But if any one is too haughty to do this, he should be subjected to corporal punishment: if he remains unyielding, he must be expelled from the monastery.

    ⁵ Quod si quis contentiosus reperitur, corripiatur. ⁶ Si quis autem frater pro quavis minima causa ab abbate vel a quocumque priore suo corripitur quolibet modo, ⁷ vel si leviter senserit animos prioris cuiuscumque contra se iratos vel commotos quamvis modice, ⁸ mox sine mora tamdiu prostratus in terra ante pedes eius iaceat satisfaciens, usque dum benedictione sanetur illa commotio. ⁹ Quod qui contempserit facere, aut corporali vindictae subiaceat aut, si contumax fuerit, de monasterio expellatur.

Apr 30;  Aug 30;  Dec 30

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CHAPTER 72. THE GOOD ZEAL THAT
MONKS OUGHT TO HAVE

LXXII.
DE ZELO BONO
QUOD DEBENT MONACHI HABERE

¹ JUST as there is an evil zeal of bitterness

which separates from God

and leads to hell, 

¹ Sicut est zelus amaritudinis malus

qui separat a Deo

et ducit ad infernum, 

 ² so there is a good zeal

which separates from vices

and leads to God  and to life everlasting. 

 ² ita est zelus bonus

qui separat a vitia,

et ducit ad Deum  et ad vitam aeternam. 

⁴ That is:  they should outdo one another in showing honor. (Rom 12:10)

⁵ Let them most patiently endure one another’s infirmities, whether of body or of character.

⁶ Let them compete in showing obedience to one another. 

⁷ None should follow what he judges useful for himself, but rather what is better for another: 

⁸ They should practice fraternal charity with a pure love;

⁹ to God offering loving reverence,

¹⁰ loving their abbot with sincere and humble affection,

¹² and may he bring us all together to life everlasting.  Amen.

    ¹² qui nos pariter ad vitam aeternam perducat.     Amen.

May 1;  Aug 31;  Dec 31

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CHAPTER 73. THE WHOLE OF JUST OBSERVANCE IS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS RULE

LXXIII. DE HOC QUOD NON OMNIS IUSTITIAE OBSERVATIO IN HAC SIT REGULA CONSTITUTA

¹ WE have written this Rule so that, by observing it in monasteries, we may demonstrate that we have somewhat grasped honorable behavior and the beginnings of this way of life. ² But for those hastening to the perfection of this way of life there are the teachings of the of the holy Fathers, the observance of which leads one to the heights of perfection. ³ For what page or what words are there in the divinely-inspired Old and New Testaments that are not a most direct norm for human life?

    ^l Regulam autem hanc descripsimus, ut hanc observantes in monasteriis aliquatenus vel honestatem morum aut initium conversationis nos demonstremus habere. ²   Ceterum ad perfectionem conversationis qui festinat, sunt doctrinae sanctorum patrum, quarum observatio perducat hominem ad celsitudinem perfectionis. ³  Quae enim pagina aut qui sermo divinae auctoritatis veteris ac novi testamenti non est rectissima norma vita humanae?

    ⁴ Or what book of the holy Catholic Fathers does not resoundingly proclaim the direct path by which we may reach our Creator? ⁵ Moreover, the Conferences of the Fathers, their Institutes and their Lives, as well as the Rule of our holy Father Basil - ⁶ what else are these for good-living and obedient monks than instruments of virtue? ⁷ But to us who are lazy, bad-living, and negligent they bring the blush of shame.

    ⁴ Aut quis liber sanctorum catholicorum patrum hoc non resonat ut recto cursu perveniamus ad creatorem nostrum? ⁵ Necnon et Collationes Patrum et Instituta et Vitas eorum, sed et Regula sancti patris nostri Basilii, ⁶ quid aliud sunt nisi bene viventium et oboedientium monachorum instrumenta virtutum. ⁷ Nobis autem desidiosis et male viventibus atque neglegentibus rubor confusionis est.

    ⁸ Whoever you are, therefore, hastening toward your heavenly homeland; fulfill with the help of Christ this little Rule for beginners we have written: ⁹ and then at last you will arrive under God’s protection at the loftier summits of doctrine and virtue we have spoken of above. Amen.

⁸ Quisquis ergo ad patriam caelestem festinas, hanc minimam inchoationis regulam descriptam, adiuvante Christo, perfice, ⁹ et tunc demum ad maiora quae supra commemoravimus doctrinae virtutumque culmina, Deo protegente, pervenies. Amen.