Holy Rule for August 18
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St. Mary's Monastery
Aug 17, 2026, 5:56:50 PMAug 17
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 18, August 18, December 18
Chapter 63: On the Order of the Community (1-9)
Let all keep their places in the monastery established by the time of their entrance, the merit of their lives and the decision of the Abbot. Yet the Abbot must not disturb the flock committed to him, nor by an arbitrary use of his power ordain anything unjustly; but let him always think of the account he will have to render to God for all his decisions and his deeds.
Therefore in that order which he has established or which they already had, let the brethren approach to receive the kiss of peace and Communion, intone the Psalms and stand in choir. And in no place whatever should age decide the order or be prejudicial to it; for Samuel and Daniel as mere boys judged priests.
Except for those already mentioned, therefore, whom the Abbot has promoted by a special decision or demoted for definite reasons, all the rest shall take their order according to the time of their entrance. Thus, for example, he who came to the monastery at the second hour of the day, whatever be his age or his dignity, must know that he is junior to one who came at the first hour of the day. Boys, however, are to be kept under discipline in all matters and by everyone.
REFLECTION
I have known one monk of St. Leo who may perhaps have been delighted to be the most senior monk by age and entrance, but he is long gone now. The others I have known, who either held the first place or hovered near it, could not have cared less, might even chuckle about it if reminded. I like their way better.
Rank is a handy way to organize people in line, but after that, its usefulness quickly diminishes. Rank that one desires or seeks can be downright pernicious and fatal to a monastic life. If you look at this chapter closely, it is not hard to see that St. Benedict wanted his monastics to pretty much take their place and forget about it - going any higher or lower had nothing to do with their own decision anyhow and they should be at peace.
There's the rub: to be at peace! We need peace, we need inner serenity. It is no accident that it became our motto, PAX. That peace of soul is fertile earth in which God tills His bountiful fields of graces. It is the foundation we need to build houses firm.
That inner peace becomes impossible when our primary focus is a scramble to the top. Archbishop Sheen called ambition "the ecclesiastical lust" and he was very right. What obsesses us often comes to enslave and own us outright, a tragic turn of events. Our thirst ought to be holiness, not power or position.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 18, August 18, December 18
Chapter 63: On the Order of the Community (1-9)
Let all keep their places in the monastery established by the time of their entrance, the merit of their lives and the decision of the Abbot. Yet the Abbot must not disturb the flock committed to him, nor by an arbitrary use of his power ordain anything unjustly; but let him always think of the account he will have to render to God for all his decisions and his deeds.
Therefore in that order which he has established or which they already had, let the brethren approach to receive the kiss of peace and Communion, intone the Psalms and stand in choir. And in no place whatever should age decide the order or be prejudicial to it; for Samuel and Daniel as mere boys judged priests.
Except for those already mentioned, therefore, whom the Abbot has promoted by a special decision or demoted for definite reasons, all the rest shall take their order according to the time of their entrance. Thus, for example, he who came to the monastery at the second hour of the day, whatever be his age or his dignity, must know that he is junior to one who came at the first hour of the day. Boys, however, are to be kept under discipline in all matters and by everyone.
REFLECTION
I have known one monk of St. Leo who may perhaps have been delighted to be the most senior monk by age and entrance, but he is long gone now. The others I have known, who either held the first place or hovered near it, could not have cared less, might even chuckle about it if reminded. I like their way better.
Rank is a handy way to organize people in line, but after that, its usefulness quickly diminishes. Rank that one desires or seeks can be downright pernicious and fatal to a monastic life. If you look at this chapter closely, it is not hard to see that St. Benedict wanted his monastics to pretty much take their place and forget about it - going any higher or lower had nothing to do with their own decision anyhow and they should be at peace.
There's the rub: to be at peace! We need peace, we need inner serenity. It is no accident that it became our motto, PAX. That peace of soul is fertile earth in which God tills His bountiful fields of graces. It is the foundation we need to build houses firm.
That inner peace becomes impossible when our primary focus is a scramble to the top. Archbishop Sheen called ambition "the ecclesiastical lust" and he was very right. What obsesses us often comes to enslave and own us outright, a tragic turn of events. Our thirst ought to be holiness, not power or position.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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