CHAPTER 3
The Rule, Chapter 3 25 ities of parenthood are the same as the qualities asked of an abbot. St. Benedict's closing remark in chapter 2 can be applied to every parent and to anyone who has charges under him or her. ."In this way, while always fearful of the future examination of the shepherd about the sheep entrusted to him and careful about the state of others' accounts, he becomes concerned also about his own, and while helping others to amend by his warnings, he achieves the amendment of his own faults."
CHAPTER 3
Summoning the Brothers for Counsel St. Benedict's monks do not live under a dictatorship or an oligarchy. "As often as anything is to be done in the monastery, the abbot shall call the whole community together and himself explain what the business is; and after hearing the advice of the brothers, let him ponder it and follow what he judges the wiser course." The abbot can make the final decision, but he cannot make it without having first received the advice of the community. When the community is assembled for this purpose, a chapter meeting takes place.
St. Benedict says: "The reason why we have said all should be called for counsel is that the Lord often reveals what is better to the younger." Church law has determined, however, that in our day only those monks who are in final vows may be called to chapter. In St. Benedict's time, monks did not have a temporary period of profession but made perpetual vows upon completion of the novitiate.
"The brothers, for their part, are to express their opinions with all humility, and not presume to defend their own views obstinately." There was a time when chapter meetings were
26 The Rule, Chapter 3 more formal than they are now. Each member, beginning with the seniors, took his turn at expressing an opinion briefly. If a monk had no comment to make, the one next to him spoke, and so the procedure moved down the ranks to the newest member of the chapter. Today there is more opportunity for defending our views " obstinately/ ' Anyone may speak repeatedly by simply raising his hand and being acknowledged. The abbot sometimes has to ask what the rest of us think because certain monks seem to be dominating the meeting.
What are the important matters that the monastic chapter considers? One of them is the admission of new members to the monastery. When I was a novice, we had to present ourselves to the chapter for a midyear deliberation. We were summoned and asked if we wanted to continue in the novitiate.
If we were resolved to persevere, the abbot told us to go to the chapel and pray while the chapter considered our requests.
After the chapter had discussed us and voted, we were brought back to the meeting, and the abbot told us the favorable and unfavorable impressions we had made on the chapter. I remember one novitiate class being told that it had corporately gained too much weight.
Other matters for the chapter agenda are admissions to temporary and final vows; the founding or closing of a foundation that is dependent on the mother abbey; the granting of independence to such an establishment; construction of new buildings; acceptance or relinquishment of a parish; founding or accepting the administration of a school or other institutions as well as relinquishing them. And the election of an abbot.
St. Benedict wants the abbot to seek advice from the whole community, but he also says, "If less important business of the monastery is to be transacted, he shall take counsel with the seniors only, as it is written: Do everything with counsel and you will not be sorry afterward (Sir 32:24)." This small body of advisers is called the "council." The council helps the abbot