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  LET US DO WHAT THE PROPHET SAYS
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of silence and careful
speech in spiritual life, urging disciples to listen more than they
speak.

Topics: "Christian Living", "Spiritual Discipline"
Scripture References: Psalm 141:3, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 18:21, Colossians 4:6, James 1:19

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of practicing silence
and guarding our speech to avoid sin, even refraining from good speech
when necessary. He highlights the power of the tongue to bring either
life or death, urging disciples to be silent and listen, reserving
speech for holy and edifying conversations. St. Benedict encourages
humility and reverence when speaking to superiors, condemning coarse
jests and idle words, and prohibiting disciples from engaging in such
conversations.

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CONTENT
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Let us do what the Prophet says: "I said, 'I will guard my ways, that I
may not sin with my tongue. I have set a guard to my mouth.' I was mute
and was humbled, and kept silence even from good things" (Ps.
38[39]:2-3). Here the Prophet shows that if the spirit of silence ought
to lead us at times to refrain even from good speech, so much the more
ought the punishment for sin make us avoid evil words.

Therefore, since the spirit of silence is so important, permission to
speak should rarely be granted even to perfect disciples, even though it
be for good, holy edifying conversation; for it is written, "In much
speaking you will not escape sin" (Prov. 10:19), and in another place,
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Prov. 18:21).

For speaking and teaching belong to the mistress; the disciple's part is
to be silent and to listen. And for that reason if anything has to be
asked of the Superior, it should be asked with all the humility and
submission inspired by reverence. But as for coarse jests and idle words
or words that move to laughter, these we condemn everywhere with a
perpetual ban, and for such conversation we do not permit a disciple to
open her mouth.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/let-us-do-what-the-prophet-says/
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