The Rule of Saint Benedict

Of Brethren sent on a journey

Wuen brethren are about to be sent on a journey let them commend themselves to the prayers of all the brethren and of the abbot, and at the closing prayer of the Divine Office let a commemoration be made of all the absent brethren. When they come back from a journey, on the day of their return, at all the Canonical Hours when the Divine Office is finished, the brethren shall prostrate themselves on the ground and beg the prayers of all for any faults they may have fallen into on the road, by the sight or hearing of evil things, or by idle discourse. And

let no one dare to relate to another what he shall

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT 119

have seen or heard outside the monastery, because this is most detrimental. If any one shall presume to do this he must be subjected to the punishment prescribed in the Rule. In like manner shall he be punished who shall presume to break the enclosure of the monastery, or go anywhere, or do anything,

however trifling, without the abbot's permission. 8» P