Holy Rule for December 21
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St. Mary's Monastery
Dec 20, 2025, 5:55:27 PM12/20/25
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 21, August 21, December 21
Chapter 64: On Constituting an Abbess (7-22)
Once she has been constituted, let the Abbess always bear in mind what a burden she has undertaken and to whom she will have to give an account of her stewardship, and let her know that her duty is rather to profit her sisters than to preside over them. She must therefore be learned in the divine law, that she may have a treasure of knowledge from which to bring forth new things and old. She must be chaste, sober and merciful. Let her exalt mercy above judgment, that she herself may obtain mercy. She should hate vices; she should love the sisterhood.
In administering correction she should act prudently and not go to excess, lest in seeking too eagerly to scrape off the rust she break the vessel. Let her keep her own frailty ever before her eyes and remember that the bruised reed must not be broken. By this we do not mean that she should allow vices to grow; on the contrary, as we have already said, she should eradicate them prudently and with charity, in the way which may seem best in each case. Let her study rather to be loved than to be feared.
Let her not be excitable and worried, nor exacting and headstrong, nor jealous and over-suspicious; for then she is never at rest. In her commands let her be prudent and considerate; and whether the work which she enjoins concerns God or the world, let her be discreet and moderate, bearing in mind the discretion of holy Jacob, who said, "If I cause my flocks to be overdriven, they will all die in one day." Taking this, then, and other examples of discretion, the mother of virtues, let her so temper all things that the strong may have something to strive after, and the weak may not fall back in dismay.
And especially let her keep this Rule in all its details, so that after a good ministry she may hear from the Lord what the good servant heard who gave the fellow-servants wheat in due season: "Indeed, I tell you, he will set that one over all his goods" (Matt. 24:27).
REFLECTION
Anyone reading this would perhaps quite rightly think: "Wow! That's a tall order to fill!" They would, of course, be right.
Now for the clincher: this is not just a model for Abbots, but for all of us with any authority, in fact, for all of us period. This is the way Benedictines should treat others, seniors, juniors, all people. This Christ-like attitude ought to pervade every parent, teacher, boss, and nurse and grocery clerk, all of us. For every one of us the model here is exquisite. Read it over and over and etch it into your very heart. This is St. Benedict at his best!
Pay particular attention to the deceptively short paragraph about not being "excitable and worried," along with its other cautions. Its warning that such things mean we shall never be at rest is a very important one. Without such, rest, without a certain level of serenity and peace, the spiritual journey is very, very tough going, indeed. We badly need that restful serenity to focus on Christ and the tasks of our souls at hand.
"Now THAT," he said in an unusually short reflection, "is a REALLY tall order!" Sure is! You can only do it with grace, with prayer and God's all-merciful help.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 21, August 21, December 21
Chapter 64: On Constituting an Abbess (7-22)
Once she has been constituted, let the Abbess always bear in mind what a burden she has undertaken and to whom she will have to give an account of her stewardship, and let her know that her duty is rather to profit her sisters than to preside over them. She must therefore be learned in the divine law, that she may have a treasure of knowledge from which to bring forth new things and old. She must be chaste, sober and merciful. Let her exalt mercy above judgment, that she herself may obtain mercy. She should hate vices; she should love the sisterhood.
In administering correction she should act prudently and not go to excess, lest in seeking too eagerly to scrape off the rust she break the vessel. Let her keep her own frailty ever before her eyes and remember that the bruised reed must not be broken. By this we do not mean that she should allow vices to grow; on the contrary, as we have already said, she should eradicate them prudently and with charity, in the way which may seem best in each case. Let her study rather to be loved than to be feared.
Let her not be excitable and worried, nor exacting and headstrong, nor jealous and over-suspicious; for then she is never at rest. In her commands let her be prudent and considerate; and whether the work which she enjoins concerns God or the world, let her be discreet and moderate, bearing in mind the discretion of holy Jacob, who said, "If I cause my flocks to be overdriven, they will all die in one day." Taking this, then, and other examples of discretion, the mother of virtues, let her so temper all things that the strong may have something to strive after, and the weak may not fall back in dismay.
And especially let her keep this Rule in all its details, so that after a good ministry she may hear from the Lord what the good servant heard who gave the fellow-servants wheat in due season: "Indeed, I tell you, he will set that one over all his goods" (Matt. 24:27).
REFLECTION
Anyone reading this would perhaps quite rightly think: "Wow! That's a tall order to fill!" They would, of course, be right.
Now for the clincher: this is not just a model for Abbots, but for all of us with any authority, in fact, for all of us period. This is the way Benedictines should treat others, seniors, juniors, all people. This Christ-like attitude ought to pervade every parent, teacher, boss, and nurse and grocery clerk, all of us. For every one of us the model here is exquisite. Read it over and over and etch it into your very heart. This is St. Benedict at his best!
Pay particular attention to the deceptively short paragraph about not being "excitable and worried," along with its other cautions. Its warning that such things mean we shall never be at rest is a very important one. Without such, rest, without a certain level of serenity and peace, the spiritual journey is very, very tough going, indeed. We badly need that restful serenity to focus on Christ and the tasks of our souls at hand.
"Now THAT," he said in an unusually short reflection, "is a REALLY tall order!" Sure is! You can only do it with grace, with prayer and God's all-merciful help.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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