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  THEREFORE, WHEN ANYONE RECEIVES THE NAME OF ABBESS
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: An Abbess should govern her disciples with a twofold teaching,
showing them good deeds and explaining commandments, while being mindful
of her own flaws and avoiding hypocrisy.

Topics: "Spiritual Leadership", "Personal Discipline"
Scripture References: Psalm 50:16

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of leading by example
as a spiritual leader, teaching disciples through both words and
actions. He highlights the need for consistency between preaching and
living out God's commandments to avoid being hypocritical and facing
judgment from God. St. Benedict warns against neglecting personal
discipline and failing to address one's own faults while pointing out
the faults of others.

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CONTENT
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Therefore, when anyone receives the name of Abbess, she ought to govern
her disciples with a twofold teaching.

That is to say, she should show them all that is good and holy by her
deeds even more than by her words, expounding the Lord's commandments in
words to the intelligent among her disciples, but demonstrating the
divine precepts by her actions for those of harder hearts and ruder
minds.

And whatever she has taught her disciples to be contrary to God's law,
let her indicate by her example that it is not to be done, lest, while
preaching to others, she herself be found reprobate (1 Cor. 9:27), and
lest God one day say to her in her sin, "Why do you declare My statutes
and profess My covenant with your lips, whereas you hate discipline and
have cast My words behind you" (Ps. 49[50]:16-17)?

And again, "You were looking at the speck in your brother's eye, and did
not see the beam in your own" (Matt. 7:3).

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/therefore-when-anyone-receives-the-name-of-abbess/
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