RB Reflection 14 August 2008

Chapter 60. The Admission of Priests to the Monastery

If any ordained priest asks to be received into the monastery, do not agree too quickly. However, if he is fully persistent in his request, he must recognize that he will have to observe the full discipline of the rule without any mitigation, knowing that it is written: Friend, what have you come for (Matt 26:50)? He should, however, be allowed to stand next to the abbot, to give blessings and to celebrate Mass, provided that the abbot bids him. Otherwise, he must recognize that he is subject to the discipline of the rule, and not make any exceptions for himself, but rather give everyone an example of humility. Whenever there is question of an appointment or of any other business in the monastery, he takes the place that corresponds to the date of his entry into the community, and not that granted him out of respect for his priesthood.

Any clerics who similarly wish to join the community should be ranked somewhere in the middle, but only if they, too, promise to keep the rule and observe stability.

When I served as Hospitality for the meeting of the American representatives meeting of Lay Cistercians, in November, the subject of admitting priests into the various lay groups was discussed. Overall, people were against it for various reasons. One reason is that if a priest is in the group then others will always defer to the priest, and that completely ruins the purpose of a lay association. Another was that priests sometimes think that because they are priests they should run whatever show they are involved with.

St. Benedict in this chapter is speaking to both of those problems, admittedly under different circumstances. A priest wants to join his monastery, Benedict says: "sure, but you're coming in at the bottom of the ladder, though. That means the seventeen year old over there is your senior in the monastic life. Can you handle that? Oh, and don't just stand up with me when I give the blessing until I invite you to do it. You leave all your rights at the door, just like everyone else."

Lay Cistercians have to behave in a similar manner when admitting those in the hierarchy of the church into our groups. Personally, I think if they feel called to the Cistercian way of life, then let them enter the monastery. Priests have plenty of organizations that's just for them. Others will feel differently, and in the end I don't care either way. The point is that we must not let a person with 'perceived power' enter our group without that person realizing they are nothing more than just another member.

Lay Cistercians also need to apply this chapter to our own hearts. How much privilege do I expect because I write the rule reflections? Or that s/he might expect because they serve on the Executive Council? The answer is nothing more than what we do as a service. I, Steve, am not the authority on Benedict in all matters pertaining to the Rule. The executive s/he's are not potentates of our administrative law either.

May God bring us altogether to everlasting life.