19. Of the Manner of Reciting the Psalter
We believe that God is present everywhere and that the eyes of the Lord behold the good and the bad in every place (cf Prov 15:3).
Let us firmly believe this, especially when we take part in the Work of God.
Let us, therefore, always be mindful of what the Prophet says:
"Serve ye the Lord with fear" (Ps 2:11). And again, "Sing ye wisely" (Ps 46[47]:8). And, "I will sing praise to Thee in the sight of the angels" (Ps 137[138]:1).
Therefore, let us consider how it becomes us to behave in the sight of God and His angels, and let us so stand to sing, that our mind may be in harmony with our voice.
20. Of Reverence at Prayer
If we do not venture to approach men who are in power, except with humility and reverence, when we wish to ask a favour, how much must we beseech the Lord God of all things with all humility and purity of devotion?
And let us be assured that it is not in many words, but in the purity of heart and tears of compunction that we are heard. For this reason prayer ought to be short and pure, unless, perhaps it is lengthened by the inspiration of divine grace.
At the community exercises, however, let the prayer always be short, and the sign having been given by the Superior, let all rise together.
21. Of the Deans of the Monastery
If the brotherhood is large, let brethren of good repute and holy life be chosen from among them and be appointed Deans; and let them take care of their deaneries in everything according to the commandments of God and the directions of their Abbot.
Let such be chosen Deans as the Abbot may safely trust to share his burden.
Let them not be chosen for their rank, but for the merit of their life and their wisdom and knowledge;
and if any of them, puffed up with pride, should be found blameworthy and, after having been corrected once and again and even a third time, refuses to amend, let him be deposed, and one who is worthy be placed in his stead. We make the same regulation with reference to the Prior.
22. How the Monks Are to Sleep
Let the brethren sleep singly, each in a separate bed. Let them receive the bedding befitting their mode of life, according to the direction of their Abbot.
If it can be done, let all sleep in one apartment; but if the number does not allow it, let them sleep in tens or twenties with the seniors who have charge of them.
Let a light be kept burning constantly in the cell till morning.
Let them sleep clothed and girded with cinctures or cords, that they may be always ready; but let them not have knives at their sides whilst they sleep, lest perchance the sleeping be wounded in their dreams;
and the sign having been given, rising without delay, let them hasten to outstrip each other to the Work of God, yet with all gravity and decorum.
Let the younger brethren not have their beds beside each other, but intermingled with the older ones; and rising to the Work of God, let them gently encourage one another on account of the excuses of the drowsy.
23. Of Excommunication for Faults
If a brother is found stubborn or disobedient or proud or murmuring, or opposed to anything in the Holy Rule and a contemner of the commandments of his Superiors,
let him be admonished by his Superiors once and again in secret, according to the command of our Lord (cf Mt 18:15-16).
If he does not amend let him be taken to task publicly before all.
But if he does not reform even then, and he understands what a penalty it is, let him be placed under excommunication; but if even then he remains obstinate let him undergo corporal punishment.
24. What the Manner of Excommunication Should Be
The degree of excommunication or punishment ought to be meted out according to the gravity of the offense, and to determine that is left to the judgment of the Abbot.
If, however, anyone of the brethren is detected in smaller faults, let him be debarred from eating at the common table.
The following shall be the practice respecting one who is excluded from the common table:
that he does not intone a psalm or an antiphon nor read a lesson in the oratory until he has made satisfaction; let him take his meal alone, after the refection of the brethren; thus:
if, for instance, the brethren take their meal at the sixth hour that brother will take his at the ninth, and if the brethren take theirs at the ninth, he will take his in the evening, until by due satisfaction he obtains pardon.
25. Of Graver Faults
But let the brother who is found guilty of a graver fault be excluded from both the table and the oratory. Let none of the brethren join his company or speak with him.
Let him be alone at the work enjoined on him, persevering in penitential sorrow, mindful of the terrible sentence of the Apostle who says, that "such a man is delivered over for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord" (1 Cor 5:5).
Let him get his food alone in such quantity and at such a time as the Abbot shall deem fit; and let him not be blessed by anyone passing by, nor the food that is given him.
26. Of Those Who without the Command of the Abbot Associate with the Excommunicated
If any brother presume to associate with an excommunicated brother in any way, or to speak with him, or to send him a message, without the command of the Abbot, let him incur the same penalty of excommunication.
27. How Concerned the Abbot Should Be about the Excommunicated
Let the Abbot show all care and concern towards offending brethren because "they that are in health need not a physician, but they that are sick" (Mt 9:12).
Therefore, like a prudent physician he ought to use every opportunity to send consolers, namely, discreet elderly brethren, to console the wavering brother, as it were, in secret, and induce him to make humble satisfaction;
and let them cheer him up "lest he be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow" (2 Cor 2:7); but, as the same Apostle says, "confirm your charity towards him" (2 Cor 2:8); and let prayer be said for him by all.
The Abbot must take the utmost pains, and strive with all prudence and zeal, that none of the flock entrusted to him perish:
For the Abbot must know that he has taken upon himself the care of infirm souls, not a despotism over the strong;
and let him fear the threat of the Prophet wherein the Lord says: "What ye saw to be fat, that ye took to yourselves, and what was diseased you threw away" (Ezek 34:3-4).
And let him follow the loving example of the Good Shepherd, who, leaving the ninety-nine sheep on the mountains,
went to seek the one that had gone astray, on whose weakness He had such pity, that He was pleased to lay it on His sacred shoulders and thus carry it back to the fold (cf Lk 15:5).
28. Of Those Who Having Often Been Corrected Do Not Amend
If a brother has often been corrected and has even been excommunicated for a fault and does not amend, let a more severe correction be applied to him, namely, proceed against him with corporal punishment.
But if even then he does not reform, or puffed up with pride, should perhaps, which God forbid, even defend his actions, then let the Abbot act like a prudent physician.
After he has applied soothing lotions, ointments of admonitions, medicaments of the Holy Scriptures, and if, as a last resource, he has employed the caustic of excommunication and the blows of the lash, and sees that even then his pains are of no avail,
let him apply for that brother also what is more potent than all these measures: his own prayer and that of the brethren, that the Lord who is all-powerful may work a cure in that brother.
But if he is not healed even in this way, then finally let the Abbot dismiss him from the community, as the Apostle says: "Put away the evil one from among you" (1 Cor 5:13);
and again: "If the faithless depart, let him depart" (1 Cor 7:15); lest one diseased sheep infect the whole flock.
29. Whether Brethren Who Leave the Monastery Ought to Be Received Again
If a brother, who through his own fault leaves the monastery or is expelled, desires to return, let him first promise full amendment of the fault for which he left; and thus let him be received in the last place, that by this means his humility may be tried.
If he should leave again, let him be received even a third time, knowing that after this every means of return will be denied him.
30. How Young Boys Are to Be Corrected
Every age and understanding should have its proper discipline.
Whenever, therefore, boys or immature youths or such as cannot understand how grave a penalty excommunication is, are guilty of a serious fault, let them undergo severe fasting or be disciplined with corporal punishment, that they may be corrected.