Friday, August 22, 2008

RB Reflections: 22 August 2008

Chapter 65. the Prior of the Monastery

Too often in the past, the appointment of a prior has been the source of serious contention in monasteries. Some priors, puffed up by the evil spirit of pride and thinking themselves as second abbots, usurp tyrannical power and foster contention and discord in their communities. This occurs especially in monasteries where the same bishop and the same abbots appoint both abbot and prior. It is easy to see what an absurd arrangement this is, because from the very first moment of his appointment as prior he is given grounds for pride, as his thoughts, suggest to him that hs is exempt from his abbot's authority. "After all, you were made prior by the same men who made the abbot."

This is an open invitation to envy, quarrels, slander, rivalry, factions and disorders of every kind, with the result that, while abbot and prior pursue conflicting policies, their own souls are inevitably endangered by this discord; and at the same time the monks under them take sides and so go to their ruin. the responsibility for this evil and dangerous situation rests on the heads of those who initiated such a state of confusion.

Again Benedict has shown himself to be a man who possesses plain old good horse sense. If the same authority sets up number 1, and number 2, then number 2, if inflated by the "evil spirit of pride" will certainly try to undercut the authority of number 1. This is seen in the business world every day, why should we expect it to be different in the monastery?

How is it true in the LCG? Do we undercut others with carping and malicious talk? Do we say "in the spirit of charity" and then proceed to gossip? It's tricky living the Rule of Life. Power struggles must be avoided in the life of the LCG, and for the most part, I believe that they are. That does not mean they won't come up at some point. Lucky for us, we have Benedict to help us. Tomorrow he will show us the way.

May God bring us all to everlasting life.

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