RB Reflection: 5 August 2008

Chapter 53. 16-24

Let there be a separate kitchen for the Abbot and guests, that the brethren may not be disturbed when guests, who are never lacking in a monastery, arrive at irregular hours. Let two brethren capable of filling the office well be appointed for a year to have charge of this kitchen. Let them be given such help as they need, that they may serve without murmuring. And on the other hand, when they have less to occupy them, let them go out to whatever work is assigned them.

And not only in their case but in all the offices of the monastery let this arrangement be observed, that when help is needed it be supplied, and again when the workers are unoccupied they do whatever they are bidden.

The guest house also shall be assigned to a brother whose soul is possessed by the fear of God. Let there be a sufficient number of beds made up in it; and let the house of God be managed by prudent men and in a prudent manner.

On no account shall anyone who is not so ordered associate or converse with guests.
But if he should meet them or see them, let him greet them humbly, as we have said,
ask their blessing and pass on, saying that he is not allowed to converse with a guest.

Again today I have lifted directly from the OSB website.

Two points jump out at me immediately here, first is "The guest house also shall be assigned to a brother whose soul is possessed by the fear of God." For those of us who have spent any time at Gethsemani in the guesthouse, that brother is Br. Rene. It is hard, for me at least, to think of a more saintly man than Br. Rene. He does not engage you in conversation unless you engage him, and then he is happy to talk to you as long as you need it. While he is not the guesthouse chaplain I think it's safe to say he has given peace to thousands of souls over the years.

The second point that jumps out is that final paragraph. Since Cistercians of the Strict Observance keep the rule relatively strictly, pardon the pun, it explains a lot the complaints people have made over the years about how cold the monks seem to outsiders. It's not so much as matter of coldness, it is obeying the Rule. If you've been around a while you know that up until fairly recently all you got out of a monk if you passed him in the hall was a nod if you were lucky.

Lay Cistercians need to remember that not being monks or nuns we must speak to stranger/guest, in our meetings, our parish life, in any place where it might be said that we "entertained angels unaware." It does not mean that we have to become their best friend, or subject our lives to their needs. We have to remember that we are the hands of the monks and nuns who live within enclosure, and that is how we serve the Charism. It is also every Christian's duty to remember that we are the hands and face of Christ to every person we meet. And that! That is infinitely more challenging.

May God bring us altogether to everlasting life.