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  IF A BROTHER IS FOUND TO BE OBSTINATE
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: St. Benedict outlines the process for addressing obstinate
behavior in a brother, emphasizing the importance of reform and the
consequences of refusal.

Topics: "Church Discipline", "Christian Obedience"
Scripture References: Proverbs 13:24, Matthew 18:15, 1 Corinthians 5:11, Galatians 6:1, Titus 3:10, Hebrews 12:6

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of discipline and
obedience within the community, outlining a process for dealing with a
brother who displays obstinance, disobedience, pride, murmuring, or
habitual transgression of the Holy Rule. Following the steps laid out by
Our Lord in Matthew 18:15, the brother is to be privately admonished
twice before facing public rebuke in front of the entire community if he
does not amend his ways. If the brother remains unrepentant, he is to be
excommunicated, with the option of corporal punishment for those who
persist in their defiance.

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CONTENT
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If a brother is found to be obstinate, or disobedient, or proud, or
murmuring, or habitually transgressing the Holy Rule in any point and
contemptuous of the orders of his seniors, the latter shall admonish him
secretly a first and a second time, as Our Lord commands (Matt. 18:15).
If he fails to amend, let him be given a public rebuke in front of the
whole community. But if even then he does not reform, let him be placed
under excommunication, provided that he understands the seriousness of
that penalty; if he is perverse, however, let him undergo corporal
punishment.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/if-a-brother-is-found-to-be-obstinate/
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