As cellarer of the monastery, there should be chosen from the community someone who is wise, mature in conduct, temperate, not an excessive eater, not proud, excitable, offensive, dilatory or wasteful, but God-fearing, and like a father to the whole community. He will take care of everything, but will do nothing without an order from the abbot. Let him keep to his orders.
He should not annoy the brothers. If any brother happens to make an unreasonable demand of him, he should not reject him with disdain and cause him distress, but reasonably and humbly deny the improper request. Let him keep watch over his own soul, ever mindful of that saying of the Apostle: He who serves well secures a good standing for himself (I Tim. 3:13). He must show every care and concern for the sick, children, guests and the poor, knowing for certain that he will be held accountable for all of them on the day of judgment. He will regard all utensils and goods of the monastery as sacred vessels of the altar, aware that nothing is to be neglected. He should not be prone to greed, nor be wasteful and extravagant with the good of the monastery, but should do everything with moderation and according to the abbot's orders.
For an eye opening view into the duties of the early Cistercians click here. According to the Statute On Temporal Administration. 1999.
The Cellarer: The Abbot appoints a cellarer who is responsible for the ordinary administration of the monastery's temporal affairs. Normally, apart from the abbot, only he may act validly in the name of the monastery when incurring expenses and in legal matters" (C. 43.1). The Abbot may, however, entrust the function traditionally assumed by the cellarer to several persons, one of whom may be given the title of cellarer.So it is easy to see that the duties of the cellarer have changed dramatically from the 6th century to the 21st century. Now that the details of what they do is out of the way, we can look more closely into how the cellarer is to do his/her duties. Let's see, there is wise, mature, temperate, not an overeater, not proud, excitable, offensive, dilatory or wasteful. In other words, you need to be stable and trustworthy to be given control of the Abbey's food, drink, properties, etc., and not a drama queen/king.
How does this fit in with Lay Cistercians? Think of our treasurers, and those in charge of arranging large scale events: they are cellarers. The LCG picnic is coming up this weekend for those who can brave the $4.00 a gallon gasoline prices (which raises all sorts of questions about what is a good steward of God's goods we take from the earth), and those who will bring food, set up for the occasion, and more importantly, stick around to clean it all up so that when we leave, no trace of our having been there is left.
There is another dimension to the cellarer that applies to each and every one of us. "He must show every care and concern for the sick, children, guests and the poor...." That is a requirement for compassion and love. Interesting that the person in charge of all the worly goods of the monastery should be required also to possess great compassoin and great love. How much compassion and love do you have? Is it enough for everyone?
Part two of the requirement is even more interesting. "He will regard all utensils and goods of the monastery as sacred vessels of the altar, aware that nothing is to be neglected." This seems to say that everything, food, drink, plates, silverware, and people, are as sacred as the vessels of the altar. Nothing is sacred in itself. Not even a newly bought chalice. It is the use of the item that makes it sacred.
As we near our retreat at the Abbey let us ask ourselves, just how we treat the goods of the monastery--in a sacred fashion? Or, as there for our disposal and nothing more?
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