RB Reflection: 10 May 2008

Chapter 2. Qualities of the Abbot

To be worthy of the task of governing a monastery, the abbot must always remember what his title signifies and act as a superior should. He is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery, since he is addressed by a title of Christ, as the Apostle indicates: You have received the spirit of adoption of sons by which we exclaim, abba, father (Rom. 8:15). Therefore, the abbot must never teach or decree or command anything that would deviate from the Lord's instructions. On the contrary, everything he teaches and commands should, like the leaven of divine justice, permeate the minds of his disciples.

Let's use Fr. Elias as our example today, especially the part where he has to remember that he is as Christ among the brothers of the community. Imagine how would you feel if such a load, such a weight of responsibility were wrapped about your shoulders? That is the weight of holiness. It is a mantle he will put on and wear until the day he retires from the Abbacy.

Then he is told to never teach, decree, or command anything that "would deviate from the Lord's instructions." The Lord's instructions, at least as I see it, are those of Christ Jesus. We also know that instructions come down to us from higher up in the church, and even the pope can speak and make it stick! He seldom does that, and for good reason. So Fr. Elias is also obedient then to the church. Can we then infer that the "Lord's instructions," might sometimes be interpreted to mean what comes down the hierarchical ladder to him?

In the end I don't think it much matters, because the Holy Spirit, you see, is in charge of everything. Upon that simple believe I rest easy no matter which way the wind blows in liturgy, encyclicals and Papal statements. The Holy Spirit is in charge, this is not the 6th Century, fear of hell may have been the prime moving force for people back then, but now it must be our understanding that the Holy Spirit is in charge.

Also, today is the first anniversary of my conversion to Roman Catholicism.