Holy Rule for July 17
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St. Mary's Monastery
Jul 16, 2025, 5:09:39 PM7/16/25
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
March 17, July 17, November 16
Chapter 38: On the Weekly Reader
The meals of the sisters should not be without reading. Nor should the reader be anyone who happens to take up the book; but there should be a reader for the whole week, entering that office on Sunday. Let this incoming reader, after Mass and Communion, ask all to pray for her that God may keep her from the spirit of pride. And let her intone the following verse, which shall be said three times by all in the oratory: "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise". Then, having received a blessing, let her enter on the reading.
And let absolute silence be kept at table, so that no whispering may be heard nor any voice except the reader's. As to the things they need while they eat and drink, let the sisters pass them to one another so that no one need ask for anything. If anything is needed, however, let it be asked for by means of some audible sign rather than by speech. Nor shall anyone at table presume to ask questions about the reading or anything else, lest that give occasion for talking; except that the Superior may perhaps wish to say something briefly for the purpose of edification.
The sister who is reader for the week shall take a little ablution before she begins to read, on account of the Holy Communion and lest perhaps the fast be hard for her to bear. She shall take her meal afterwards with the kitchen and table servers of the week.
The sisters are not to read or chant in order, but only those who edify their hearers.
REFLECTION
It is tempting when reading any rule or law to view it being observed with goose-step precision. Don't go there! That's not how the Holy Rule gets fleshed out in healthy communities. (And the key word here is HEALTHY!) Ours is a Rule for families, and families need love and affectionate playfulness to build and strengthen their bonds of unity and delight in each other.
OK, so we do keep silence in the refectory and we do have reading and we can't go absolutely off the wall while there, but we do at times have some fun. A sidelong glance with eyes rolled upward can say volumes, a smile or chuckle, sometimes universal and joyous laughter do the same.
One could go too far with such things, but in moderation they are fine. They unite with non-verbal ties, they connect with wordless junctures and these are very powerful. The huge amount of verbiage in our modern world has taught us to discount words on many occasions, but the genuinely affectionate body language of shared silence does not fall under that sentence. Hence, these are very strong messages of love we send to one another.
Sometimes the matter being read is sufficiently boring to make one chew with incredible speed. This is a Catch 22, however. The faster one eats, the more days it will take to finish the pearl of great price at hand.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
March 17, July 17, November 16
Chapter 38: On the Weekly Reader
The meals of the sisters should not be without reading. Nor should the reader be anyone who happens to take up the book; but there should be a reader for the whole week, entering that office on Sunday. Let this incoming reader, after Mass and Communion, ask all to pray for her that God may keep her from the spirit of pride. And let her intone the following verse, which shall be said three times by all in the oratory: "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise". Then, having received a blessing, let her enter on the reading.
And let absolute silence be kept at table, so that no whispering may be heard nor any voice except the reader's. As to the things they need while they eat and drink, let the sisters pass them to one another so that no one need ask for anything. If anything is needed, however, let it be asked for by means of some audible sign rather than by speech. Nor shall anyone at table presume to ask questions about the reading or anything else, lest that give occasion for talking; except that the Superior may perhaps wish to say something briefly for the purpose of edification.
The sister who is reader for the week shall take a little ablution before she begins to read, on account of the Holy Communion and lest perhaps the fast be hard for her to bear. She shall take her meal afterwards with the kitchen and table servers of the week.
The sisters are not to read or chant in order, but only those who edify their hearers.
REFLECTION
It is tempting when reading any rule or law to view it being observed with goose-step precision. Don't go there! That's not how the Holy Rule gets fleshed out in healthy communities. (And the key word here is HEALTHY!) Ours is a Rule for families, and families need love and affectionate playfulness to build and strengthen their bonds of unity and delight in each other.
OK, so we do keep silence in the refectory and we do have reading and we can't go absolutely off the wall while there, but we do at times have some fun. A sidelong glance with eyes rolled upward can say volumes, a smile or chuckle, sometimes universal and joyous laughter do the same.
One could go too far with such things, but in moderation they are fine. They unite with non-verbal ties, they connect with wordless junctures and these are very powerful. The huge amount of verbiage in our modern world has taught us to discount words on many occasions, but the genuinely affectionate body language of shared silence does not fall under that sentence. Hence, these are very strong messages of love we send to one another.
Sometimes the matter being read is sufficiently boring to make one chew with incredible speed. This is a Catch 22, however. The faster one eats, the more days it will take to finish the pearl of great price at hand.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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