Holy Rule for May 18
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St. Mary's Monastery
May 17, 2026, 5:48:56 PM (13 days ago) May 17
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 17, May 18, September 17
Chapter 3: On Calling the Brethren for Counsel (7-13)
In all things, therefore, let all follow the Rule as guide, and let no one be so rash as to deviate from it. Let no one in the monastery follow his own heart's fancy; and let no one presume to contend with his Abbot in an insolent way or even outside of the monastery. But if anyone should presume to do so, let him undergo the discipline of the Rule. At the same time, the Abbot himself should do all things in the fear of God and in observance of the Rule, knowing that beyond a doubt he will have to render an account of all his decisions to God, the most just Judge.
But if the business to be done in the interests of the monastery be of lesser importance, let him take counsel with the seniors only. It is written, "Do everything with counsel, and you will not repent when you have done it" (Eccles. 32:24).
REFLECTION
This reading completes the chapter and offers us the capstone to the grace and beauty of St. Benedict's government. The Abbot "should do all things in the fear of God." Give just a brief shot at applying that to all Cardinals, Bishops, and Pastors, as well as parents, bosses and all the laity. What a different world we would have!
Abbot Charles Mohr of St. Leo used to say: "Keep the Holy Rule and the Rule will keep you." How true that is! If an Abbot acts in the fear of God, his community can be united in pride behind him, even decades later. In 1908, when Florida was still a hotbed of Ku Klux Klan activity, both racist and anti-Catholic, Abbot Charles accepted George Miller, a black man who had applied to enter the monastery.
He ignored the threat that predictably came in the mail, and stood firm. Though George, of his own will, did not stay, he was welcome in Abbot Charles' eyes, a brother in Christ. Abbot Charles' actions preached that to any willing to listen, as well as to quite a few who were not!
Abbot Francis, St. Leo's second Abbot, was born in Bavaria and fluent in German. In World War II, when POW camps in Florida began to fill up with German Catholics, Abbot Francis went calmly to minister to their sacramental needs, something his facility in their language made eminently sensible.
Abbot Francis was a truly saintly man, and he emulated the gentle love of his patron, St. Francis de Sales. That gentle kindness prompted him to invite the German prisoners to come to the Abbey for Christmas Midnight Mass in 1944. There were German voices singing "Silent Night" in its original tongue.
Twelve days later, arson destroyed the prep school gym. Nothing could be proven, but many suspected the reason. Abbot Francis continued his ministry. He invited the POW's to come back for Easter, 1945. Two weeks after the Easter visit, St. Mary's Science Hall was torched. Abbot Francis did not budge.
This was in war time, the community was hardly rolling in cash, they were building a Church and they had lost two terribly important components of their principal livelihood, a residential prep school for boys. Not only the buildings, but how many might fear to send their sons back to a campus of arsons? What if it were a dormitory next time? Abbot Francis held firm. He did not protect capital or real estate. He protected the honor of God, period.
The community is still very proud of him to this day, justly so. No one called for his ouster, because he protected things of God. That was a gutsy courage that none but his most implacable enemies could possibly hate. Do genuine, fearless good and the faithful will unite behind you in a formidable host.
Abbot Francis died when I was 13. I had the inestimable privilege of meeting him when I was still in grade school and his kindness over his last years to me, a mere child, was touching, indeed. I was a 9 year old kid and an Abbot was sending me postcards when he traveled to give retreats. Say a prayer for his eternal rest and for Abbot Charles’, too!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
January 17, May 18, September 17
Chapter 3: On Calling the Brethren for Counsel (7-13)
In all things, therefore, let all follow the Rule as guide, and let no one be so rash as to deviate from it. Let no one in the monastery follow his own heart's fancy; and let no one presume to contend with his Abbot in an insolent way or even outside of the monastery. But if anyone should presume to do so, let him undergo the discipline of the Rule. At the same time, the Abbot himself should do all things in the fear of God and in observance of the Rule, knowing that beyond a doubt he will have to render an account of all his decisions to God, the most just Judge.
But if the business to be done in the interests of the monastery be of lesser importance, let him take counsel with the seniors only. It is written, "Do everything with counsel, and you will not repent when you have done it" (Eccles. 32:24).
REFLECTION
This reading completes the chapter and offers us the capstone to the grace and beauty of St. Benedict's government. The Abbot "should do all things in the fear of God." Give just a brief shot at applying that to all Cardinals, Bishops, and Pastors, as well as parents, bosses and all the laity. What a different world we would have!
Abbot Charles Mohr of St. Leo used to say: "Keep the Holy Rule and the Rule will keep you." How true that is! If an Abbot acts in the fear of God, his community can be united in pride behind him, even decades later. In 1908, when Florida was still a hotbed of Ku Klux Klan activity, both racist and anti-Catholic, Abbot Charles accepted George Miller, a black man who had applied to enter the monastery.
He ignored the threat that predictably came in the mail, and stood firm. Though George, of his own will, did not stay, he was welcome in Abbot Charles' eyes, a brother in Christ. Abbot Charles' actions preached that to any willing to listen, as well as to quite a few who were not!
Abbot Francis, St. Leo's second Abbot, was born in Bavaria and fluent in German. In World War II, when POW camps in Florida began to fill up with German Catholics, Abbot Francis went calmly to minister to their sacramental needs, something his facility in their language made eminently sensible.
Abbot Francis was a truly saintly man, and he emulated the gentle love of his patron, St. Francis de Sales. That gentle kindness prompted him to invite the German prisoners to come to the Abbey for Christmas Midnight Mass in 1944. There were German voices singing "Silent Night" in its original tongue.
Twelve days later, arson destroyed the prep school gym. Nothing could be proven, but many suspected the reason. Abbot Francis continued his ministry. He invited the POW's to come back for Easter, 1945. Two weeks after the Easter visit, St. Mary's Science Hall was torched. Abbot Francis did not budge.
This was in war time, the community was hardly rolling in cash, they were building a Church and they had lost two terribly important components of their principal livelihood, a residential prep school for boys. Not only the buildings, but how many might fear to send their sons back to a campus of arsons? What if it were a dormitory next time? Abbot Francis held firm. He did not protect capital or real estate. He protected the honor of God, period.
The community is still very proud of him to this day, justly so. No one called for his ouster, because he protected things of God. That was a gutsy courage that none but his most implacable enemies could possibly hate. Do genuine, fearless good and the faithful will unite behind you in a formidable host.
Abbot Francis died when I was 13. I had the inestimable privilege of meeting him when I was still in grade school and his kindness over his last years to me, a mere child, was touching, indeed. I was a 9 year old kid and an Abbot was sending me postcards when he traveled to give retreats. Say a prayer for his eternal rest and for Abbot Charles’, too!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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