Chapter Forty-One
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
At What Times the Brethren Should Take Their Meals
FROM holy Easter till Pentecost let the brethren dine at the sixth hour and take supper in the evening. From Pentecost on, however, during the whole summer, if the monks have no work in the fields and the excess of the heat doth not interfere, let them fast on Wednesday and Friday until the ninth hour; but on the other days let them dine at the sixth hour. This sixth hour for dinner is to be continued, if they have work in the fields or the heat of the summer is intense. Let the Abbot provide for this; and so let him manage and adjust everything so that souls can be saved, and that the brethren accomplish all their work without having a reasonable cause to murmur. From the ides of September until the beginning of Lent let them always dine at the ninth hour. During Lent, however, until Easter, let them dine in the evening. But let this evening hour be so arranged that they will not need lamp-light during their meal; in fact, let everything be finished while there is still daylight. In sum, let the hour of meals throughout the year, whether for dinner or for supper, be so arranged that everything is done by daylight.