The Rule of Saint Benedict

Ir any nobleman shall offer his son to God in the monastery, let the parents, if the child himself be

under age, make the petition for him, and together

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT . 103

with the oblation wrap the formal promise and the hand of the boy in the altar cloth and thus dedicate him to God. With regard to any property let the parents promise in the document under oath that they will never either give or furnish him with the means of obtaining anything whatever, either themselves or by any other person or by any means. Or, if they will not do this, and desire to give some alms to the monastery, as a free gift, let them hand over to the place what they wish, reserving, if they please, the income for themselves. Let all these matters be so managed that the child have no expectations by which he may be deceived and perish (which God forbid), as by experience we have learnt is sometimes the case. In the same way let those who are poorer act. But such as have nothing whatever shall simply make the promise and offer their son before witnesses

with the oblation.

104. THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT