Holy Rule for April 17
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St. Mary's Monastery
Apr 16, 2026, 8:36:46 PM (14 days ago) Apr 16
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 17, August 17, December 17
Chapter 62: On the Priests of the Monastery
If an Abbot desire to have a priest or a deacon ordained for his monastery, let him choose one who is worthy to exercise the priestly office.
But let the one who is ordained beware of self-exaltation or pride; and let him not presume to do anything except what is commanded him by the Abbot, knowing that he is so much the more subject to the discipline of the Rule. Nor should he by reason of his priesthood forget the obedience and the discipline required by the Rule, but make ever more and more progress towards God.
Let him always keep the place which he received on entering the monastery, except in his duties at the altar or in case the choice of the community and the will of the Abbot should promote him for the worthiness of his life. Yet he must understand that he is to observe the rules laid down by deans and Priors.
Should he presume to act otherwise, let him be judged not as a priest but as a rebel. And if he does not reform after repeated admonitions, let even the Bishop be brought in as a witness. If then he still fails to amend, and his offenses are notorious, let him be put out of the monastery, but only if his contumacy is such that he refuses to submit or to obey the Rule.
REFLECTION
The other day I passed the assistant manager of our local supermarket cleaning up a bad mess on the floor with sweeping compound. I stopped and told him that was the best possible thing his employees could see. I congratulated him, saying that his employees would more likely do anything for him gladly. They had seen him do it first.
This chapter applies to anyone who rises at work or at school or even in the home. Much is required of those to whom much is given! When a Benedictine gets a promotion, the basic willingness to do anything necessary ought to remain firmly in place!
Authority, when it is placed over us, is to be reverenced and obeyed, when it is placed in our own hands, it is to serve, not to reign! All of us get the opportunity to live under authority or to administer same. Our Benedictine hearts should make it readily evident to any who observes us that our style in either area is decidedly different!
There's another thing both the world and religious life could profit from learning. Authority in the Holy Rule is not permanent, not even in the case of an Abbot, whom St. Benedict says may, even ought to be removed in extreme cases. So often, in cloister or world, once we have kicked someone upstairs, we are hesitant to ever put them downstairs again. That shouldn't be. It gives the person and the community an excellent potential for learning and teaching humility. Whenever anyone handles authority badly, really badly, they should not be rewarded with continued administration. Alas, that is often not the case.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
April 17, August 17, December 17
Chapter 62: On the Priests of the Monastery
If an Abbot desire to have a priest or a deacon ordained for his monastery, let him choose one who is worthy to exercise the priestly office.
But let the one who is ordained beware of self-exaltation or pride; and let him not presume to do anything except what is commanded him by the Abbot, knowing that he is so much the more subject to the discipline of the Rule. Nor should he by reason of his priesthood forget the obedience and the discipline required by the Rule, but make ever more and more progress towards God.
Let him always keep the place which he received on entering the monastery, except in his duties at the altar or in case the choice of the community and the will of the Abbot should promote him for the worthiness of his life. Yet he must understand that he is to observe the rules laid down by deans and Priors.
Should he presume to act otherwise, let him be judged not as a priest but as a rebel. And if he does not reform after repeated admonitions, let even the Bishop be brought in as a witness. If then he still fails to amend, and his offenses are notorious, let him be put out of the monastery, but only if his contumacy is such that he refuses to submit or to obey the Rule.
REFLECTION
The other day I passed the assistant manager of our local supermarket cleaning up a bad mess on the floor with sweeping compound. I stopped and told him that was the best possible thing his employees could see. I congratulated him, saying that his employees would more likely do anything for him gladly. They had seen him do it first.
This chapter applies to anyone who rises at work or at school or even in the home. Much is required of those to whom much is given! When a Benedictine gets a promotion, the basic willingness to do anything necessary ought to remain firmly in place!
Authority, when it is placed over us, is to be reverenced and obeyed, when it is placed in our own hands, it is to serve, not to reign! All of us get the opportunity to live under authority or to administer same. Our Benedictine hearts should make it readily evident to any who observes us that our style in either area is decidedly different!
There's another thing both the world and religious life could profit from learning. Authority in the Holy Rule is not permanent, not even in the case of an Abbot, whom St. Benedict says may, even ought to be removed in extreme cases. So often, in cloister or world, once we have kicked someone upstairs, we are hesitant to ever put them downstairs again. That shouldn't be. It gives the person and the community an excellent potential for learning and teaching humility. Whenever anyone handles authority badly, really badly, they should not be rewarded with continued administration. Alas, that is often not the case.
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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