Holy Rule for December 22
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St. Mary's Monastery
Dec 21, 2025, 5:35:50 PM12/21/25
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 22, August 22, December 22
Chapter 65: On the Prior of the Monastery (1-10)
It happens all too often that the constituting of a Prior gives rise to grave scandals in monasteries. For there are some who become inflated with the evil spirit of pride and consider themselves second Abbots. By usurping power they foster scandals and cause dissensions in the community. Especially does this happen in those places where the Prior is constituted by the same Bishop or the same Abbots who constitute the Abbot himself. What an absurd procedure this is can easily be seen; for it gives the Prior an occasion for becoming proud from the very time of his constitution, by putting the thought into his mind that he is freed from the authority of his Abbot: "For," he will say to himself, "you were constituted by the same persons who constitute the Abbot." From this source are stirred up envy, quarrels, detraction, rivalry, dissensions and disorders. For while the Abbot and the Prior are at variance, their souls cannot but be endangered by this dissension; and those who are under them, currying favor with one side or the other, go to ruin. The guilt for this dangerous state of affairs rests on the heads of those whose action brought about such disorder.
REFLECTION
When I read the line about those governed "currying favor with one side or the other," I thought immediately of the children of divorce. Children, however, are quite perceptive, and it is not just divorce, but any noticeable drift between parents that they will manipulate. That is why, in family and monastery, unity in authority is very important.
St. Benedict tries to guarantee this by letting the Abbot choose his own Prior, parents can do it by a struggle to overcome their own personal differences for the good of the children. This is not to say that the parents can necessarily get over their problems, but that they must at least try to be consistent with the children, for the children's sakes. As St. Benedict points out, this choosing of sides in child or monastic, can lead to ruin.
Why does it lead to ruin? Because manipulation to some degree puts us in charge of ourselves, something no child and very, very few monastics are strong enough to be. As St. Bernard of Clairvaux said: "The one who has himself for a master has a fool for a disciple."
One reason we took obedience upon ourselves was our knowledge of our own weakness. This knowledge can fade and dim with time, we can be convinced we know better. Our obedience is a real protection from harm. Benedictines not only are not in charge of themselves, but, as the Holy Rule defines coenobitic community life, they "desire" this lack of control. They "desire to live under a Rule and an Abbot."
One cannot expect children to be wise enough to see how good and necessary obedience is at every turn, but it shouldn't be much of a stretch for us adults!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 22, August 22, December 22
Chapter 65: On the Prior of the Monastery (1-10)
It happens all too often that the constituting of a Prior gives rise to grave scandals in monasteries. For there are some who become inflated with the evil spirit of pride and consider themselves second Abbots. By usurping power they foster scandals and cause dissensions in the community. Especially does this happen in those places where the Prior is constituted by the same Bishop or the same Abbots who constitute the Abbot himself. What an absurd procedure this is can easily be seen; for it gives the Prior an occasion for becoming proud from the very time of his constitution, by putting the thought into his mind that he is freed from the authority of his Abbot: "For," he will say to himself, "you were constituted by the same persons who constitute the Abbot." From this source are stirred up envy, quarrels, detraction, rivalry, dissensions and disorders. For while the Abbot and the Prior are at variance, their souls cannot but be endangered by this dissension; and those who are under them, currying favor with one side or the other, go to ruin. The guilt for this dangerous state of affairs rests on the heads of those whose action brought about such disorder.
REFLECTION
When I read the line about those governed "currying favor with one side or the other," I thought immediately of the children of divorce. Children, however, are quite perceptive, and it is not just divorce, but any noticeable drift between parents that they will manipulate. That is why, in family and monastery, unity in authority is very important.
St. Benedict tries to guarantee this by letting the Abbot choose his own Prior, parents can do it by a struggle to overcome their own personal differences for the good of the children. This is not to say that the parents can necessarily get over their problems, but that they must at least try to be consistent with the children, for the children's sakes. As St. Benedict points out, this choosing of sides in child or monastic, can lead to ruin.
Why does it lead to ruin? Because manipulation to some degree puts us in charge of ourselves, something no child and very, very few monastics are strong enough to be. As St. Bernard of Clairvaux said: "The one who has himself for a master has a fool for a disciple."
One reason we took obedience upon ourselves was our knowledge of our own weakness. This knowledge can fade and dim with time, we can be convinced we know better. Our obedience is a real protection from harm. Benedictines not only are not in charge of themselves, but, as the Holy Rule defines coenobitic community life, they "desire" this lack of control. They "desire to live under a Rule and an Abbot."
One cannot expect children to be wise enough to see how good and necessary obedience is at every turn, but it shouldn't be much of a stretch for us adults!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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