========================================================================
  IF A SISTER WHO HAS BEEN FREQUENTLY CORRECTED FOR SOME FAULT
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
========================================================================

Summary: When a sister refuses to reform, a series of increasingly
severe corrections should be applied, culminating in expulsion if
necessary, to protect the community from her influence.

Topics: "Church Discipline", "Restorative Prayer"
Scripture References: Proverbs 13:24, Matthew 18:15, 1 Corinthians 5:13, 1 Corinthians 7:15, James 5:16

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of discipline and
correction within the community, particularly when dealing with a sister
who repeatedly fails to amend her ways. He advises escalating measures
of correction, starting with exhortation and the Scriptures, then moving
to excommunication and physical discipline if necessary. If all efforts
fail, he suggests resorting to the powerful remedy of prayer for the
sister's restoration. Ultimately, if the sister remains unhealed and
disruptive, St. Benedict advocates for the drastic measure of expulsion
to protect the community from contamination.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If a sister who has been frequently corrected for some fault, and even
excommunicated, does not amend, let a harsher correction be applied,
that is, let the punishment of the rod be administered. But if she still
does not reform or perhaps (which God forbid) even rises up in pride and
wants to defend her conduct, then let the Abbess do what a wise
physician would do.

Having used applications, the ointments of exhortation, the medicines of
the Holy Scriptures, finally the cautery of excommunication and of the
strokes of the rod, if she sees that her efforts are of no avail, let
her apply a still greater remedy, her own prayers and those of all the
others, that the Lord, who can do all things may restore health to the
sister who is sick.

But if she is not healed even in this way, then let the Abbess use the
knife of amputation, according to the Apostle's words, "Expel the evil
one from your midst" (1 Cor. 5:13), and again, "If the faithless one
departs, let her depart" (1 Cor. 7:15) lest one diseased sheep
contaminate the whole flock.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/if-a-sister-who-has-been-frequently-corrected-for-some-fault/
========================================================================