Do not grant newcomers to the monastic life an easy entry, but, as the Apostle says, Test the spirits to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1). Therefore, if someone comes and keeps knocking at the door, and if at the end of four or five days he has shown himself patient in bearing his harsh treatment and difficulty of entry, and has persisted in his request, then he should be allowed to enter and stay in the guest quarters for a few days. After that, he should live in the novitiate, where the novices study, eat and sleep.
A senior chosen for his skill in winning souls should be appointed to look after them with careful attention. The concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God and whether he shows eagerness for the Work of God, for obedience and for trials. The novice should be clearly told all the hardships and difficulties that will lead him to God.
If he promises perseverance in his stability, then after two months have elapsed let this rule be read straight through to him, and let him be told: "This is the law under which you are choosing to serve. If you can keep it, come in. If not, feel free to leave." If he still stands firm, he is to be taken back to the novitiate, and again thoroughly tested in patience. After six months have passed, the rule is to be read to him, so that he may know what he is entering. If once more he stands firm, let four months go by, and then read this rule to him again. If after due reflection he promises to observe everything and to obey every command given him, let him then be received into the community. But he must be well aware that, as the law of the rule establishes, from this day he is no longer free to leave the monastery, nor to shake from his neck the yoke of the rule which, in the course of so prolonged a period of reflection, he was free either to reject or to accept.
Lay Cistercians neither have novitiates, nor have the rule read to us in its entirety four times before we are allowed to join our local community. The section today causes me to think it might be a good idea for exactly such a thing to happen. Many want to join, but few are willing to come to the meetings. St. Benedict has no patience with those who have heard the rule over and over again and then when admitted to the community decide they don't want to stay.
Should we have patience with people who declare how much they are Lay Cistercian but cannot be bothered to attend our meetings? The LCG has a retreat coming up, and there will be those present who haven't attended a single LCG meeting throughout the entire year. Every local chapter has one member that just will not come. I'm not talking about those who cannot come because Sunday is their work day, like ministers and choir directors/members! I am talking about those who wish the benefits, without any of the effort.
I am more hermit than not, but I go to my monthly meetings with joy. There are members of the same local group that I attend who live far away, but they meet together often. At the retreat I will see people whom supposedly belong to the same local group as I do whom I never see the rest of the year! Perhaps it is time for the 1960s Hippy approach to change, perhaps we do need some specific rules, as much as I hate to say it.
"This is the law under which you are choosing to serve. If you can keep it, come in. If not, feel free to leave."May God bring us all to everlasting life.
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