Any abbot who asks to have a priest or deacon ordained should choose from his monks one worthy to exercise the priesthood. The monk so ordained must be on guard against conceit or pride, must not presume to do anything except what the abbot commands him, and must recognize that now he will have to subject himself all the more to the discipline of the rule. just because he is a priest, he may not therefore forget the obedience and discipline of the rule, but must make more and more progress toward God.
He will always take the place that corresponds to the date of his entry into the monastery, except in his duties at the altar, or unless the whole community chooses and the abbot wishes to give him a higher place for the goodness of his life. Yet, he must know how to keep the rule established fro deans and priors; should he presume to act otherwise, he must be regarded as a rebel, not as a priest. If after many warnings he does not improve, let the bishop too be brought in as a witness. Should he not amend even then, and his faults become notorious, he is to be dismissed from the monastery, but only if he is so arrogant that he will not submit or obey the rule.
Off the top of my head I would say this chapter says "don't let your new power go to your head." Sometimes it almost seems that Benedict is dealing with people who have a playground mentality, instead of a monastery full of adults. Now, having said that, I wonder if perhaps that playground mentality doesn't stay with us all our lives. Think of the new manager who in the zeal of MANAGER makes life a living hell for everyone under them.
Benedict says that the new priest is to remember the rule for priors and deans. What the rule said about deans was, that
if perhaps one of these deans is found to be puffed up with any pride, and so deserving of censure he should be reproved.Later on in the rule Benedict will say that some priors think of themselves as second abbots. The warning and message is clear: "don't let it go to your head." And, "if you do you will lose it."
As Lay Cistercians we need to remember that we are called to live in a charism that is a gift to us, it does not make us better than the other members of our parishes, or more holy because we are contemplatives. The frightening thing is that without an abbot to call us to account, we are answerable to God!
May God bring us altogether to everlasting life.
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