LITMIR.BIZ

      Jesus did not establish a republic, but a Kingdom. So the monastery, the Christian home and the Church are not democracies. When there is an important decision to be taken Benedict expects the abbot to summon the brethren not for a vote, but for consultation. The Latin word here is consilium not concilium – counsel not council. The abbot is to listen and consult, but in the end he bears the authority so he makes the decision.

      Benedict's advice is balanced and wise. There are two temptations in communal living: one, to let the leader take all responsibility, and the other, to let committees and elections take all the responsibility. Neither extreme works well. In the first the majority have no say, and in the second they have all the say. The first is wrong because one person is never always right and the second is wrong because the crowd is never always right.

      So Benedict establishes a balance in which the clear authority of the abbot is balanced with consultation and genuine listening to the needs and opinions of all the brothers. It is especially interesting that the youngest of the brothers should also be listened to, for God often speaks through the mouth of the youngest since they have a special wisdom and purity which is linked with their youth and inexperience.

      So likewise a Christian family is neither a dictatorship of the father nor a democracy of the mob. Instead the father and mother have absolute authority in the home, but that authority is exercised for the good of the children. They may not often be summoned for a formal family meeting, but the good father and mother will listen to the children and be sensitive to their needs at all times.

      Listening attentively to our children is the best and most natural form of consultation. Listening to them is difficult because their conversation is often banal and repetitious. But in granting them full attention we construct a regular form of consultation and maintain open channels of communication which are invaluable. With this kind of listening, parents will be able to settle everything with justice and foresight. Furthermore, the time spent listening to our toddlers will pay off later because we will find we have open and loving teenagers instead of sullen, silent ones.

      January 17

      May 18

      September 17

      CHAPTER III

      ON SUMMONING THE

      BRETHREN TO COUNCIL (B)

       In every circumstance, therefore, all should follow the authority of the Rule, nor is it to be rashly abandoned by anyone. No one in the monastery is to follow the prompting of his own heart; no one is to presume to argue rudely with the Abbot, or to argue at all outside the monastery. If anyone does so presume, he must submit to disciplinary measures. The Abbot himself, however, in all his actions must fear God and keep the Rule, bearing in mind that most surely he will have to render account for all his decisions before God, the most just judge.

       If, however, there are less important matters to be transacted for the well-being of the monastery, the Abbot should take counsel only with the senior monks, for it is written, ‘Take counsel about all you do and afterwards you will have no regrets.’