Holy Rule for August 23
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St. Mary's Monastery
Aug 22, 2026, 5:28:18 PM (6 days ago) Aug 22
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 23, August 23, December 23
Chapter 65: On the Prior of the Monastery (11-22)
To us, therefore, it seems expedient for the preservation of peace and charity that the Abbot have in his hands the full administration of his monastery. And if possible let all the affairs of the monastery, as we have already arranged, be administered by deans according to the Abbot's directions. Thus, with the duties being shared by several, no one person will become proud.
But if the circumstances of the place require it, or if the community asks for it with reason and with humility, and the Abbot judges it to be expedient, let the Abbot himself constitute as his Prior whomsoever he shall choose with the counsel of God-fearing brethren.
That Prior, however, shall perform respectfully the duties enjoined on him by his Abbot and do nothing against the Abbot's will or direction; for the more he is raised above the rest, the more carefully should he observe the precepts of the Rule.
If it should be found that the Prior has serious faults, or that he is deceived by his exaltation and yields to pride, or if he should be proved to be a despiser of the Holy Rule, let him be admonished verbally up to four times. If he fails to amend, let the correction of regular discipline be applied to him. But if even then he does not reform, let him be deposed from the office of Prior and another be appointed in his place who is worthy of it. And if afterwards he is not quiet and obedient in the community, let him even be expelled from the monastery. But the Abbot, for his part, should bear in mind that he will have to render an account to God for all his judgments, lest the flame of envy or jealousy be kindled in his soul.
REFLECTION
St. Benedict gives a loftiness of respect to the Abbess that is almost scary at times. Because of that loftiness, it is refreshing to see how firmly he has his feet planted in reality checks, too. The Abbot is human, so are those he appoints. They are called to things higher, but they can fail them woefully and St. Benedict provides for those occasions.
But the big reality check here is his caution that the Abbess must be careful to avoid jealousy. Wow! Right on the mark, but not the first idea that would have popped into someone's head unless they had lived in community.
Jealousy, like any vice, isn't good for much, but let's mine the few bits of information it or any vice offers. Our jealousies (and other vices,) tell us a lot about ourselves, a lot about how far we have to go, a lot about how terribly short we fall of having made it! Skip the Abbess and Prioress for a minute here and do some self-inventory. Of whom or of what are you jealous?
Check out the valuable leads of your own envy. What's going on here? Is she better looking, thinner, richer? Does he have a better education? Is the car in the next drive or the house on the next block or the apartment on the floor above so much nicer that you pine for it? All of these, wherever you find them, are clues. Follow them carefully to their source. You may be surprised at what you learn about yourself by doing so.
Be a bit relentless here. WHY are you jealous of a given thing or person? Really! The things we desire or envy are not always as valid as we think they are. Your own average status may have spared you from a LOT of superficiality in dating or friendship. Ever think of that? Keep digging on every count and you will find some startling self-truths.
Try (and I know this is hard from personal experience,) examining the things you think are woeful deprivations as tender mercies. They often are, perhaps even usually so! Our wishes are not necessarily infallible heralds of the good or the best.
God often has to protect us from ourselves. When we force ourselves to finally see that, we can get down to the more important business of thanking Him for His infinite and unfathomable Divine Mercy! All truly is mercy and grace. It must be, somehow. The clincher is to learn to see that!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 23, August 23, December 23
Chapter 65: On the Prior of the Monastery (11-22)
To us, therefore, it seems expedient for the preservation of peace and charity that the Abbot have in his hands the full administration of his monastery. And if possible let all the affairs of the monastery, as we have already arranged, be administered by deans according to the Abbot's directions. Thus, with the duties being shared by several, no one person will become proud.
But if the circumstances of the place require it, or if the community asks for it with reason and with humility, and the Abbot judges it to be expedient, let the Abbot himself constitute as his Prior whomsoever he shall choose with the counsel of God-fearing brethren.
That Prior, however, shall perform respectfully the duties enjoined on him by his Abbot and do nothing against the Abbot's will or direction; for the more he is raised above the rest, the more carefully should he observe the precepts of the Rule.
If it should be found that the Prior has serious faults, or that he is deceived by his exaltation and yields to pride, or if he should be proved to be a despiser of the Holy Rule, let him be admonished verbally up to four times. If he fails to amend, let the correction of regular discipline be applied to him. But if even then he does not reform, let him be deposed from the office of Prior and another be appointed in his place who is worthy of it. And if afterwards he is not quiet and obedient in the community, let him even be expelled from the monastery. But the Abbot, for his part, should bear in mind that he will have to render an account to God for all his judgments, lest the flame of envy or jealousy be kindled in his soul.
REFLECTION
St. Benedict gives a loftiness of respect to the Abbess that is almost scary at times. Because of that loftiness, it is refreshing to see how firmly he has his feet planted in reality checks, too. The Abbot is human, so are those he appoints. They are called to things higher, but they can fail them woefully and St. Benedict provides for those occasions.
But the big reality check here is his caution that the Abbess must be careful to avoid jealousy. Wow! Right on the mark, but not the first idea that would have popped into someone's head unless they had lived in community.
Jealousy, like any vice, isn't good for much, but let's mine the few bits of information it or any vice offers. Our jealousies (and other vices,) tell us a lot about ourselves, a lot about how far we have to go, a lot about how terribly short we fall of having made it! Skip the Abbess and Prioress for a minute here and do some self-inventory. Of whom or of what are you jealous?
Check out the valuable leads of your own envy. What's going on here? Is she better looking, thinner, richer? Does he have a better education? Is the car in the next drive or the house on the next block or the apartment on the floor above so much nicer that you pine for it? All of these, wherever you find them, are clues. Follow them carefully to their source. You may be surprised at what you learn about yourself by doing so.
Be a bit relentless here. WHY are you jealous of a given thing or person? Really! The things we desire or envy are not always as valid as we think they are. Your own average status may have spared you from a LOT of superficiality in dating or friendship. Ever think of that? Keep digging on every count and you will find some startling self-truths.
Try (and I know this is hard from personal experience,) examining the things you think are woeful deprivations as tender mercies. They often are, perhaps even usually so! Our wishes are not necessarily infallible heralds of the good or the best.
God often has to protect us from ourselves. When we force ourselves to finally see that, we can get down to the more important business of thanking Him for His infinite and unfathomable Divine Mercy! All truly is mercy and grace. It must be, somehow. The clincher is to learn to see that!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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