The Rule of Saint Benedict

As soon as the signal for the Divine Office shall be heard each one must lay aside whatever work he may be engaged upon and hasten to it, with all speed, but still with gravity, so as not to cause any light behaviour. Nothing, therefore, shall be put before the Divine Office. If any one shall come to Matins after the Géria of the ninety-fourth Psalm, which on this account we wish to be said slowly and leisurely, he shall not take his place in the choir, but go last of all, or to some place apart which the abbot may appoint for those that so fail in his sight, and of all the brethren, until the Divine Office be ended and he shall have done penance and made public satisfaction.

We have judged it fitting that these should stand last, or in some place apart, in order that, being seen

by all, for very shame they may amend. For if they

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remain outside the oratory some one will, perhaps, return to sleep, or at least sit outside by himself, or setting himself to idle talk give an occasion to the evil one. Let sucha one, therefore, come inside, so that he may not lose all, but make amends during the rest of the Office. At the day Hours one who does . not come to the “ Work of God” till after the verse (Deus in adjutorium), and the G/oria of the first Psalm sald after the verse, shall stand last, according to the rule laid down above. He is not to presume to join the choir of singers until he has made satisfaction, unless, indeed, the abbot, by his permission, allow him to do so; but even then on the condition that he shall afterwards satisfy for his omission.

He who does not come to table before the verse, so that all may say it, and praying together sit down to table at the same time, must be corrected once or twice if this be through his own fault or bad habit. If he do not after this amend he is not to be

allowed to share in the common table, but he is to

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be separated from the company of all the rest and eat alone. Until he makes satisfaction and mend his ways let his portion of wine be taken away from him. He is to undergo the same punishment who is not present at the verse which is said after meals. Let no one presume to take food or drink before or after the regular time ; but if something is offered to any one by the prior, and he refuse it, and afterwards wishes to have what he had rejected, or some other thing, let him get neither this nor anything else till he

makes proper satisfaction.