RB Reflection: 11 July 2008 Feast of St. Benedict

Chapter 33. Monks and Private Ownership

Above all, this evil practice must be uprooted and removed from the monastery. We mean that without an order from the abbot, no one may presume to give, receive or retain anything as his own, nothing at all -- not a book, writing tablets or stylus -- in short, not a single item, especially since monks may not have the free disposal even of their own bodies and wills. For their needs, they are to look to the father of the monastery, and are not allowed anything which the abbot has not given or permitted. All things should be common possession of all, as it is written, so that no one presumes to call anything his own (Acts 4:32).

But if anyone is caught indulging in this most evil practice, he should be warned a first and a second time. If he does not amend, let him be subjected to punishment.

There is one major lesson here, "without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." (Matthew 10). You see, what applies to monks and nuns in monastic enclosure does not necessarily apply to Lay Cistercians in the secular world. How the monks and nuns interpret this is their business; clearly though, for those of us who live in the world, we must have certain possessions, or we will live in cardboard boxes, or caves, and our families will die of exposure.

"Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give." When that scripture is taken along with this chapter of the rule we are brought face to face with the question of how much is enough? I have no intention of deciding how much is enough for YOU, the only person whom I may do that for is ME.

As Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani we must come face to face with our use of money, and the things we buy. Are we techno-freaks? Are books like crack cocaine to us? (They are to me). Do we own possessions, or do they own us? This isn't a new question or even a very original discussion of it, but here it is in the rule, confronting us.

May God bring us altogether to everlasting life.