123. To Ernulf, Abbot Of
The Letters of St. Anselm
123. TO ERNULF, ABBOT OF
TROARN.
Anselm writes to Abbot Ernulf of Saint Martin ofTroam that a monk's profes sion of obedience to his superiors is valid until death. Therefore Bishop Odo's demand for its renewal is superfluous and unnecessary.
TO HIS LORD AND FRIEND ABBOT ERNULF1: BROTHER ANSELM,
WISHING HIM WELL-BEING IN THIS LIFE AND IN THE LIFE TO COME.
DOM NICHOLAS, YOUR BROTHER, told me on your be half that I should give you our advice on a certain matter, because the bishop of Bayeux2 has summoned you for the blessing due you on your election. But I have already told your love personally how I feel about it.
Surely we know that we ought always to profess by word and demonstrate by action the obedience we promised our superiors according to the Rule. To repeat this promise in writing, so long as we are known never to have withheld it, is surely superfluous. If somebody wants to force us to do this when we are promoted to the office of superior in the abbey, this appears to be done without good reason.
When we professed conversion in our way of life and obe dience according to the Rule of Saint Benedict,3 surely we promised obedience not only to abbots, nor only as long as we are under one abbot, but to all our superiors and as long as we live. For this very Rule teaches that a monk must subject himself in total obedience to his superior and that, imitating the Lord's example, we must observe obedience until death.4 Therefore, for anyone who has once written and read out his monastic profession, if he has never withheld it, it is unreasonable for anyone to demand another from him. Farewell. c. 1088.