Chapter 3: Summoning the Brothers for Counsel.

As often as anything important is to be done in the monastery, the abbot shall call the whole community together and himself explain what the business is; and after hearing the advice of the brothers, let him ponder it and follow what he judges the wiser course. The reason why we have said all should be called for counsel is that the Lord often reveals what is better to the younger. The brothers, for their part, are to express their opinions with all humility, and not presume to defend their own views obstinately. The decision is rather the abbot's to make, so that when he has determined with is more prudent, all may obey. Nevertheless, just as it is proper for disciples to obey their master, so it is becoming for the master on his part to settle everything with foresight and fairness.

It appears in this section of the rule to say that important business is to be brought before the entire community for discussion, and not held secretly in some kind of closed council. And, that we should listen to the young as seriously as to the old. What we might learn from that is to listen to only the old is an invitation to stay the same. That is always tempting in life, to let nothing change, to remain the same as we always were, without pushing the boundary or learning something new about ourselves.

Benedict knew that the Lord will use whom the Lord will, and not just the most experienced people. After all, think of the book of Job, and how the only one to call all the friends of Job to account was a young man. Clearly God spoke through the young at that time. Think also of the horrors of war, and when the young people of this nation rose up against the Vietnam war. It was clear that the Lord was speaking through them too, at that time.

So as Lay Cistercians we are to listen to those new to the life, and to those who are experienced in the life. As the rule says, the decision belongs to the abbot. That calls again to mind our question of to whom exactly are we obedient as Lay Cistercians? We must hope that the OCSO will come to understand that we are their new vocations. As the number of vocations to the monastic life declines, our numbers rise exponentially.

As our Lay representatives prepare to meet in Spain, and later, as the MGM of all the Abbots and Abbesses of the OCSO meet, we must remember that ultimately our obedience is to God, and our hope must be in the Holy Spirit. We must not make decisions in closed council.