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  IF ANYONE OF THE NOBILITY
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: St. Benedict emphasizes the importance of securing a child's
future by preventing them from inheriting wealth and property, to
protect them from deception and ruin.

Topics: "Monastic Life", "Child Dedication"
Scripture References: Proverbs 22:6, Matthew 6:19, Mark 10:14, Luke 14:26, Philippians 4:19

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of offering one's
children to God in the monastery, ensuring that parents make a formal
commitment to relinquish any control or influence over their child's
life and possessions. This act of dedication involves wrapping the
child's hand and a document in the altar cloth during the oblation
ceremony. Parents are urged to swear an oath that they will not provide
the child with any material possessions, safeguarding the child from
worldly expectations and potential deception. Even those with limited
resources are encouraged to make a similar offering, while those with
nothing are advised to offer their child before witnesses at the
oblation.

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CONTENT
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If anyone of the nobility

offers his son to God in the monastery

and the boy is very young,

let his parents draw up the document which we mentioned above;

and at the oblation

let them wrap the document itself and the boy's hand in the altar cloth.

That is how they offer him.

As regards their property,

they shall promise in the same petition under oath

that they will never of themselves, or through an intermediary,

or in any way whatever,

give him anything

or provide him with the opportunity of owning anything.

Or else,

if they are unwilling to do this,

and if they want to offer something as an alms to the monastery

for their advantage,

let them make a donation

of the property they wish to give to the monastery,

reserving the income to themselves if they wish.

And in this way let everything be barred,

so that the boy may have no expectations

whereby (which God forbid) he might be deceived and ruined,

as we have learned by experience.

Let those who are less well-to-do make a similar offering.

But those who have nothing at all

shall simply draw up the document

and offer their son before witnesses at the oblation.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/if-anyone-of-the-nobility/
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