Holy Rule for April 5
6 views
Skip to first unread message
St. Mary's Monastery
Apr 4, 2026, 4:16:54 PMApr 4
to holyrule
+PAX
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 5, August 5, December 5
Chapter 53: On the Reception of Guests (16-24)
Let there be a separate kitchen for the Abbot and guests that the brethren may not be disturbed when guests, who are never lacking in a monastery, arrive at irregular hours. Let two brethren capable of filling the office well be appointed for a year to have charge of this kitchen. Let them be given such help as they need, that they may serve without murmuring. And on the other hand, when they have less to occupy them, let them go out to whatever work is assigned them. And not only in their case but in all the offices of the monastery let this arrangement be observed, that when help is needed it be supplied, and again when the workers are unoccupied they do whatever they are bidden. The guest house also shall be assigned to a brother whose soul is possessed by the fear of God. Let there be a sufficient number of beds made up in it; and let the house of God be managed by prudent men and in a prudent manner. On no account shall anyone who is not so ordered associate or converse with guests. But if he should meet them or see them, let him greet them humbly, as we have said, ask their blessing and pass on, saying that he is not allowed to converse with a guest.
REFLECTION
It is the last part which strikes me. Many monasteries no longer enforce it strictly. However, it brings to mind a rule of thumb that may be applied in other situations. Like any rule of thumb, there may be exceptions, but watch the reactions of monastics whose silence or enclosure is intruded upon very carefully. You can learn a lot about the monastic in question from them.
When the reaction makes the guest (who, after all, probably didn't know any better,) feel dirty or small or terribly wrong, you can safely guess that the monastic in question has some growing up to do. I have never seen a truly holy and wise monastic react in such a way, never.
Silence and enclosure are very effective tools, but they are means to an end. They can never be ends in themselves. The holy use of these tools is quite likely to produce wonderful results, but their unholy use can be just as likely to stall progress and growth outright.
Look at the many Desert Father accounts of guests arriving unexpectedly. The elder dropped fast, silence and everything, entertaining with gratitude. Now and then one sees a different response, a very cold response, when the elder KNOWS the intentions of the guest are flawed, but we rarely know such things
about guests.
We are called to bear all things, ALL things sweetly and without a lot of fuss. That does not mean we have to like them, merely that we have to be cheerful about them and hide our displeasure.
There is possibly a good deal more grace in the smiling acceptance of an annoyance than there would be in lofty, untrammeled, silent prayer. God permitted that disturbance to come to us. What we make of its potential boon is our own affair and, sometimes, our own maturity, as well.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 5, August 5, December 5
Chapter 53: On the Reception of Guests (16-24)
Let there be a separate kitchen for the Abbot and guests that the brethren may not be disturbed when guests, who are never lacking in a monastery, arrive at irregular hours. Let two brethren capable of filling the office well be appointed for a year to have charge of this kitchen. Let them be given such help as they need, that they may serve without murmuring. And on the other hand, when they have less to occupy them, let them go out to whatever work is assigned them. And not only in their case but in all the offices of the monastery let this arrangement be observed, that when help is needed it be supplied, and again when the workers are unoccupied they do whatever they are bidden. The guest house also shall be assigned to a brother whose soul is possessed by the fear of God. Let there be a sufficient number of beds made up in it; and let the house of God be managed by prudent men and in a prudent manner. On no account shall anyone who is not so ordered associate or converse with guests. But if he should meet them or see them, let him greet them humbly, as we have said, ask their blessing and pass on, saying that he is not allowed to converse with a guest.
REFLECTION
It is the last part which strikes me. Many monasteries no longer enforce it strictly. However, it brings to mind a rule of thumb that may be applied in other situations. Like any rule of thumb, there may be exceptions, but watch the reactions of monastics whose silence or enclosure is intruded upon very carefully. You can learn a lot about the monastic in question from them.
When the reaction makes the guest (who, after all, probably didn't know any better,) feel dirty or small or terribly wrong, you can safely guess that the monastic in question has some growing up to do. I have never seen a truly holy and wise monastic react in such a way, never.
Silence and enclosure are very effective tools, but they are means to an end. They can never be ends in themselves. The holy use of these tools is quite likely to produce wonderful results, but their unholy use can be just as likely to stall progress and growth outright.
Look at the many Desert Father accounts of guests arriving unexpectedly. The elder dropped fast, silence and everything, entertaining with gratitude. Now and then one sees a different response, a very cold response, when the elder KNOWS the intentions of the guest are flawed, but we rarely know such things
about guests.
We are called to bear all things, ALL things sweetly and without a lot of fuss. That does not mean we have to like them, merely that we have to be cheerful about them and hide our displeasure.
There is possibly a good deal more grace in the smiling acceptance of an annoyance than there would be in lofty, untrammeled, silent prayer. God permitted that disturbance to come to us. What we make of its potential boon is our own affair and, sometimes, our own maturity, as well.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages