If a Brother
A brother who leaves the monastery must promise full reparation and demonstrate humility before being allowed to return.
St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of humility and repentance for those who wish to return to the monastery after leaving due to their own fault. He instructs that the returning brother must promise full reparation for leaving and be received in the lowest place to test his humility. If the brother leaves again, he should be taken back repeatedly, but after the third time, he must understand that all ways of return are denied to him.
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If a brother who through his own fault leaves the monastery should wish to return, let him first promise full reparation for his having gone away; and then let him be received in the lowest place, as a test of his humility. And if he should leave again, let him be taken back again, and so a third time; but he should understand that after this all way of return is denied him.
Sermon Outline
- The Procedure for a Brother Returning to the Monastery
- Initial Reparation
- Promise of Full Reparation
- Receiving the Brother in the Lowest Place
Key Quotes
“let him first promise full reparation for his having gone away” — St. Benedict of Nursia
“let him be received in the lowest place, as a test of his humility” — St. Benedict of Nursia
“all way of return is denied him” — St. Benedict of Nursia
Application Points
- Humility is essential for a brother to return to the monastery after leaving.
- Repentance and reparation are necessary for a brother to be forgiven for leaving the monastery.
- A brother who leaves the monastery multiple times may eventually be permanently excluded.