Mar 15;  July 15;  Nov 14

(RM 70:3)

CHAPTER 36:  THE SICK BROTHERS

XXXVI  DE INFIRMIS FRATRIBUS

CARE of the sick must rank before and above everything, so that they may truly be served as Christ Himself, ² for He said:  I was sick and you visited me (Matt 25:36) ³ and, Whatr you did for one of these who are least, you did for me (Matt 25:40). ⁴ But let the sick are themselves to consider that they are served out of honor for God, and they are not to sadden their brothers who serve them with superfluous demands;  ⁵ Yet they are to be patiently borne with, because from such as these a more abundant reward is acquired. ⁶ The abbot shall therefore exercise the greatest care that they not suffer any neglect.

    ¹ Infirmorum cura ante omnia et super omnia adhibenda est, ut sicut revera Christo ita eis serviatur, ² quia ipse dixit: Infirmus fui et visitastis me, ³ et: Quod fecistis uni de his minimis mihi fecistis. ⁴ Sed et ipsi infirmi considerent in honorem Dei sibi servire, et non superfluitate sua contristent fratres suos servientes sibi; ⁵ qui tamen patienter portandi sunt, quia de talibus copiosior merces acquiritur. ⁶ Ergo cura maxima sit abbati ne aliquam neglegentiam patiantur.

       These brothers who are sick are to be assigned a separate room and a God-fearing attendant who is also diligent and solicitous. ⁸ Baths may be offered the sick whenever this is helpful, but those who are healthy, especially the young are to be allowed this less frequently. ⁹ Additionally, the sick who are very weak may be allowed to eat meat to recover their strength; but when they are better, all are to abstain from meat as usual.

   ⁷ Quibus fratribus infirmis sit cella super se deputata et servitor timens Deum et diligens ac sollicitus. ⁸ Balnearum usus infirmis quotiens expedit offeratur ‑ sanis autem et maxime iuvenibus tardius concedatur. ⁹ Sed et carnium esus infirmis omnino debilibus pro reparatione concedatur; at, ubi meliorati fuerunt, a carnibus more solito omnes abstineant.

    ¹⁰ Moreover the abbot is to maintain the greatest care that that the sick are not neglected by the cellarers or attendants.  For he is responsible for whatever is lacking in his disciples.

   ¹⁰ Curam autem maximam habeat abbas ne a cellarariis aut a servitoribus neglegantur infirmi. Et ipsum respicit quicquid a discipulis delinquitur.

Mar 5;  July 5;  Nov 4

(RM 13:68-73)

CHAPTER 28:  THOSE WHO,  DESPITE FREQUENT CORRECTION, DO NOT AMEND

XXVIII  DE HIS QUI SAEPIUS CORREPTI EMENDARE NOLUERINT

IF a brother who is frequently corrected for some fault, or even excommunicated, does not amend, he should receive a more severe correcion: that is, let the punishment of beatings be administered to him.  ² If he then does not correct himself, or even (may it never happen!), inflamed with pride, he wishes to defend his actions, then the abbot should act as a wise physician: ³ if he has applied compresses and the ointment of his admonitions, the medicine of the Sacred Scriptures, and ultimately the cautery of excommunication or strokes of the rod; ⁴ and if he still sees that his labors are unavailing, he should add what is even greater - his prayers and those of all the brothers for him, ⁵ that the Lord who is can do all things may effect the healing of the sick brother.

                   ¹ Si quis frater frequenter correptus pro qualibet culpa, si etiam excommunicatus non emendaverit, acrior ei accedat correptio, id est ut verberum vindicta in eum procedant. ² Quod si nec ita correxerit, aut forte‑‑ quod absit‑‑ in superbia elatus etiam defendere voluerit opera sua, tunc abbas faciat quod sapiens medicus: ³ si exhibuit fomenta, si unguenta adhortationum, si medicamina scripturarum divinarum, si ad ultimum ustionem excommunicationis vel plagarum virgae, ⁴ et iam si viderit nihil suam praevalere industriam, adhibeat etiam ‑ quod maius est ‑ suam et  omnium fratrum pro eo orationem, ⁵ ut Dominus qui omnia potest operetur salutem circa infirmum fratrem.

       ⁶ But if even by this means he is not healed, then the abbot may use the knife for amputation, as the apostle says:  Banish the evil one from you (1 Cor 5:13), and again:  ⁷ If the unfaithful one departs, let him depart (1 Cor 7:15), ⁸ lest one diseased sheep infect the whole flock.

                   ⁶ Quod si nec isto modo sanatus fuerit, tunc iam utatur abbas ferro abscisionis, ut ait apostolus: Auferte malum ex vobis, ⁷ et iterum: Infidelis, si discedit, discedat, ⁸ ne una ovis morbida omnem gregem contagiet.