Chapter Seventy-Two
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
On the Virtuous Zeal Which the Monks Ought to Have
JUST as there is a bitter and evil zeal which separates us from God and leads to hell, so there is a virtuous zeal which separates us from vice and leads to God and life everlasting.
Let the monks, therefore, practice this zeal with a most ardent love: namely, that they outdo one another in showing honor. (Cf. Rom. 12:10). Let them bear one another’s infirmities, whether of body or of character, with the utmost patience; let them vie with one another in obedience. Let no one pursue what he deems advantageous to himself, but rather to another. Let them practice fraternal charity with a self-giving love.
Let them fear God. And let them love their Abbot with sincere and humble affection; let them prefer nothing whatsoever to Christ—and may He lead us all together to life everlasting.