Rule of St Benedict Reading for August 8, 2009

April 8, August 8, December 8

Chapter 55: On the Clothes and Shoes of the Brethren

For bedding let this suffice:
a mattress, a blanket, a coverlet and a pillow.

The beds, moreover, are to be examined frequently by the Abbot,
to see if any private property be found in them.
If anyone should be found to have something
that he did not receive from the Abbot,
let him undergo the most severe discipline.

And in order that this vice of private ownership
may be cut out by the roots,
the Abbot should provide all the necessary articles:
cowl, tunic, stockings, shoes, belt,
knife, stylus, needle, handkerchief, writing tablets;
that all pretext of need may be taken away.
Yet the Abbot should always keep in mind
the sentence from the Acts of the Apostles
that "distribution was made to each according as anyone had need" (Acts 4:35).
In this manner, therefore,
let the Abbot consider weaknesses of the needy
and not the ill-will of the envious.
But in all his decisions
let him think about the retribution of God.

Some thoughts:

Benedict continues to instruct his monks about private ownership. Which is that there should be no private ownership in the monastery. At the same time, the monks are to have every thing they need without stinting, taking into consideration personal issues. Compared to previous forms of Christian monasticism, Benedict is generous in a revolutionary manner. He does not see any benefit to deprivation, be it food, sleep, insufficient clothing or protection from the climate. His concern is that his monks have exactly what they need. No more, no less.

There is such a contrast here with the western world's view of possessions. So many of us believe that more is better. We have been fed such lies by all forms of media and even Presidential administrations to encourage us to buy buy buy. There is some TV commercial that moves without a pause from "I want it" to "I need it." As if the 2 were synonymous.

We of the west have somehow become so insulated that we no longer see the impact our choices have upon the rest of the world. Feeding our consumerism has led to global warming. Not the only contribution factor, but still a part. We fail to see how our choices take food from the hungry. Perhaps when we are tempted to buy things we want but do not need, we could instead consider giving that money to the poor.

And it is a temptation. There is possibly no more issue fraught with all sorts of baggage than our money. The Enemy has been quite successful with that.

Rule of St Benedict Reading for August 7, 2009

April 7, August 7, December 7

Chapter 55: On the Clothes and Shoes of the Brethren

Let clothing be given to the brethren
according to the nature of the place in which they dwell
and its climate;
for in cold regions more will be needed,
and in warm regions less.
This is to be taken into consideration, therefore, by the Abbot.

We believe, however, that in ordinary places
the following dress is sufficient for each monk:
a tunic,
a cowl (thick and woolly for winter, thin or worn for summer),
a scapular for work,
stockings and shoes to cover the feet.

The monks should not complain
about the color or the coarseness of any of these things,
but be content with what can be found
in the district where they live and
can be purchased cheaply.

The Abbot shall see to the size of the garments,
that they be not too short for those who wear them,
but of the proper fit.

Let those who receive new clothes
always give back the old ones at once,
to be put away in the wardrobe for the poor.
For it is sufficient if a monk has two tunics and two cowls,
to allow for night wear and for the washing of these garments;
more than that is superfluity and should be taken away.
Let them return their stockings also and anything else that is old
when they receive new ones.

Those who are sent on a journey
shall receive drawers from the wardrobe,
which they shall wash and restore on their return.
And let their cowls and tunics be somewhat better
than what they usually wear.
These they shall receive from the wardrobe
when they set out on a journey,
and restore when they return.


Some thoughts:

Ah, the wardrobe. How many clothes are enough? Too much? What is or is not appropriate to wear? All issues in Benedict's day just as they are in ours. I am also reminded of a Yankee aphorism: Use it up or wear it out; make it do or do without. Benedict would have approved, I believe. We see here that Benedict is concerned to have his monks adequately dressed for the climate in which they live. They are to have sufficient clothing but not too much.

I've always been a little tickled that the monks who are sent on a journey get underpants, but this garment is not considered necessary for wear within the monastery it self. And now that I can pick up Kardong's Commentary and check it out, I see that "drawers" is a bad translation. Kardong uses "pants" and he clarifies in his Notes on the translation that he means "leggings" which would be suitable for riding a horse.

We, of course, live in a different time with different expectations of that which is appropriate. If we live in the USA, our society expects us to bathe daily, wear clean clothes daily and when we fail in such grooming, it's considered a warning sign about our mental health. We have different aspects to our lives which seem to demand different wardrobes.

There is much that could be said, but I prefer to keep this as mercifully brief as I can. This passage raises questions, I believe, that we must each answer for ourselves and families. Are our wardrobes adequate or are they abundant? Do we give what we no longer wear to the poor?

These questions are not as simple to answer as one might think. For my own life, I find much prayer is needed to discern what is right.

Reading for April 8, 2008 (Really short and I apologize)

April 8, August 8, December 8
Chapter 55: On the Clothes and Shoes of the Brethren

For bedding let this suffice:
a mattress, a blanket, a coverlet and a pillow.

The beds, moreover, are to be examined frequently by the Abbot,
to see if any private property be found in them.
If anyone should be found to have something
that he did not receive from the Abbot,
let him undergo the most severe discipline.

And in order that this vice of private ownership
may be cut out by the roots,
the Abbot should provide all the necessary articles:
cowl, tunic, stockings, shoes, belt,
knife, stylus, needle, handkerchief, writing tablets;
that all pretext of need may be taken away.
Yet the Abbot should always keep in mind
the sentence from the Acts of the Apostles
that "distribution was made to each according as anyone had need" (Acts 4:35).
In this manner, therefore,
let the Abbot consider weaknesses of the needy
and not the ill-will of the envious.
But in all his decisions
let him think about the retribution of God.

Some thoughts:

Maybe I am too exhausted to think, but I have nothing to add to this that I didn;t say yesterday. I hope I am not taking the lazy way out. I look forward to what others have to say, especially if they disagree with me.

Reading for April 7, 2008 (Really long and I apologize)

April 7, August 7, December 7
Chapter 55: On the Clothes and Shoes of the Brethren

Let clothing be given to the brethren
according to the nature of the place in which they dwell
and its climate;
for in cold regions more will be needed,
and in warm regions less.
This is to be taken into consideration, therefore, by the Abbot.

We believe, however, that in ordinary places
the following dress is sufficient for each monk:
a tunic,
a cowl (thick and woolly for winter, thin or worn for summer),
a scapular for work,
stockings and shoes to cover the feet.

The monks should not complain
about the color or the coarseness of any of these things,
but be content with what can be found
in the district where they live and
can be purchased cheaply.

The Abbot shall see to the size of the garments,
that they be not too short for those who wear them,
but of the proper fit.

Let those who receive new clothes
always give back the old ones at once,
to be put away in the wardrobe for the poor.
For it is sufficient if a monk has two tunics and two cowls,
to allow for night wear and for the washing of these garments;
more than that is superfluity and should be taken away.
Let them return their stockings also and anything else that is old
when they receive new ones.

Those who are sent on a journey
shall receive drawers from the wardrobe,
which they shall wash and restore on their return.
And let their cowls and tunics be somewhat better
than what they usually wear.
These they shall receive from the wardrobe
when they set out on a journey,
and restore when they return.



Some thoughts:

Ok. I get it. Each monk has exactly what they need, no more, no less with a decent fit. What a concept. What changes would you make to your wardrobe were you to apply what our good father Benedict says here?

I find the timing interesting as the federal government gets ready to send out the economic stimulus checks. So I just had to share this because this is what I thought about as i read today's selection from the B:

Take your "stimulus check" and Give It 4 Good!

Giveit4goodIt's time for an intervention.


Our economy is based on unsustainable overconsumption. And now, we're being sent checks and told the answer is to spend even more.


Meanwhile, more than a billion people live on less than $1 a day. http://www.e4gr.org/mdgs/1.html


It's insanity. And it's time to make a stand. Time to put our treasure where our heart is. Time to choose compassion over consumption.


It's time to

Give It 4 Good. http://www.e4gr.org/giveit4good.html


Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation invites you to become part of a movement for economic sanity and moral accountability. http://www.e4gr.org/giveit4good.html


Join others across the nation and give 100%, 10% or even 0.7% of next month's so-called "economic stimulus" check to an organization of your choice working to acheive the Millennium Development Goals.


Just visit www.giveit4good.org to find out how.


At www.giveit4good.org, you'll also find resources for deciding where to give, advocacy actions, how to spread the word, resources for starting conversations about consumerism in your congregation and family ... and much more.


Once you've taken the pledge, spread the word. Email your friends and family and tell them you have taken this important step. Let the people at the nonprofit you have designated know so they can encourage others to Give It 4 Good. Put a button on your website and a flier in your congregation.


Go to the site. Take the pledge. Then keep checking back to see who has Given it 4 Good, how much has been given and where the money is going to Make Poverty History.



Christ's peace,

The Rev. Mike Kinman

Executive Director

Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation



Giving It 4 Good is as easy as:

1) Take the pledge -- Click here http://tinyurl.com/6fly7e and take the Give It 4 Good pledge (see below) and give 100%, 10%, 0.7% or another % of your choosing of your "economic stimulus check" to an organization working toward the MDGs.


Want more information and ideas on where to give first? Go to www.giveit4good.org.


2) Tell your elected officials - Click here http://www.e4gr.org/giveit4good.html#Advocacy to learn about advocacy actions you can take.

3) Spread the Word

Click here http://www.e4gr.org/giveit4good.html#SpreadTheWord to get resources -- buttons for your website, fliers, bulletin inserts and more -- to spread the word about this movement.


4) Continue the conversation -- Click here http://www.e4gr.org/giveit4good.html#Conversation for resources for prayer and study on the issues of overconsumption and consumerism.

The "Give It 4 Good" Pledge

"Because I take seriously Christ's admonition that 'where your treasure is, there will your heart be also' (Matt. 6:31), and

"Because I believe reaching out in compassion to the extreme poor around the world is more important than propping up an economy based on unsustainable consumption.

"I am donating all or part of my 2008 tax rebate/economic stimulus check (or all or part of the amount I would be receiving if I qualified for a check) to not-for-profit organizations that support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

"Instead of spending it, I am Giving It For Good."