Chapter Forty-Eight
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
On the Daily Work
IDLENESS is the enemy of the soul. Therefore, the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in lectio divina. Hence, we believe that the time for each activity will be properly ordered as follows: namely, that from Easter till the calends of October, they go out in the morning from the first till about the fourth hour, to do the necessary work, but that from the fourth till about the sixth hour they devote to reading. After the sixth hour, however, when they have risen from table, let them rest in their beds in complete silence; or if, perhaps, anyone desires to read for himself, let him read in such a way that he not disturb others. Let the Office of None be said somewhat earlier, about the middle of the eighth hour; and then let them work again at what is necessary until Vespers.
If, however, the needs of the place, or poverty should require that they do the work of gathering in the harvest themselves, they should not be downcast; for they are true monks, if they live by the work of their hands as did our forefathers and the Apostles. Let everything be done in moderation, however, on account of the faint-hearted.
From the calends of October till the beginning of Lent, let them apply themselves to reading until the end of second hour. At the second hour let Terce be said, and then let all be employed in the work which has been assigned to them till the ninth hour. When, however, the first signal for the hour of None hath been given, let each one put aside his work and be ready for the sound of the second signal. But after their meal they should devote themselves to reading or the psalms.
During the days of Lent let them be employed in reading from morning until the third hour, and till the tenth hour let them do the work which assigned to them. During these days of Lent let all received books from the library, and let them read them from beginning to end. These books are to be given out at the start of Lent.
Above all, let one or two of the seniors be appointed to go about the monastery during the time when the brethren are devoted to reading, and they should take notice in case a lazy brother be found giving himself up to idleness or gossip, and not applying himself seriously to lectio. Such a monk is not wasting his one time, but he is also distracting others. If such a monk be found (which God forbid), let him be corrected once and a second time. If he doth not change his ways, let him come under the correction of the Rule in such a way that others may fear. Finally, a brother should not spend time conversing with another brother except at the appropriate time.
On Sunday also let all devote themselves to reading, except those who are appointed to the various functions. But if anyone should be so careless and slothful that he will not or cannot meditate or read, let some work be given him to do, that he may not be idle.
As to the weak and the sickly brethren, let such work or craft be assign that they are not idle, but neither are they so wearied with the strain of work that they are driven away. Their weakness must be taken into account by the Abbot.