38. To Arnulf, The Monk.
The Letters of St. Anselm
38. TO ARNULF, THE MONK.
Because of the rule of monastic stability Anselm is unable to meet the monk Amulf of Beauvais and warns him not to do anything without the consent of his abbot.
TO HIS LORD AND BELOVED BROTHER ARNULF1: BROTHER ANSELM
SENDS GREETING.
WHAT YOUR BROTHERLY LOVE REQUESTS, namely that we meet and have a conversation together, I have also wished for ever since you took the habit of a holy monastic life and still do wish. But since I am not my own master, nor do I wish to be, I have not yet been able to arrange the outcome of our common desire nor do I know whether I ever shall be able to do it. Since time is short, therefore,
I am replying briefly by letter to what you asked me.
As regards the young brother, neither the lord abbot nor our community would grant what you ask without first learning about his conduct through a long trial stay in the monastery. The fact, however, that you intend going some where you can live according to your intention I praise and encourage. But I warn you in advance that if you want to gain the monk's reward, you do this only with the permis sion of your abbot, and that wherever God may direct your path you live a regular life in obedience to an abbot and not according to the free choice of your own will and that you do not choose a place where you can profit others and teach others, but rather where you can make progress through others and can learn about spiritual service from others. This is how you will make orderly progress if you strive to be taught before you teach. Moreover, you should know that it will do you no good to devote your life to scho larly study, which is why you renounced the world, if you consider both the goal of your vow and the training by which this goal is reached.
Your beloved love is precious to me, and although we travel alone on this pilgrimage towards our heavenly home, as by different paths, let us nevertheless pray for each other that there we may eternally rejoice together in God.
Before 1078.