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  TO US, THEREFORE, IT SEEMS EXPEDIENT
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of the Abbot's role in
maintaining peace and charity in the monastery, and outlines the duties
and discipline of the Prior.

Topics: "Monastic Leadership", "Spiritual Authority"
Scripture References: Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 16:18, Galatians 6:3, 1 Timothy 5:19, Hebrews 13:17, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of the Abbot having
full administration of the monastery for the preservation of peace and
charity. He suggests that the affairs of the monastery be administered
by deans under the Abbot's guidance to prevent pride. If necessary, the
Abbot can appoint a Prior with the counsel of God-fearing brethren, who
must respectfully carry out his duties and adhere to the Rule. The Prior
should be corrected and replaced if found to have serious faults, pride,
or disregard for the Rule, with the Abbot being accountable to God for
his judgments to avoid envy or jealousy.

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CONTENT
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To us, therefore, it seems expedient for the preservation of peace and
charity that the Abbot have in his hands the full administration of his
monastery. And if possible let all the affairs of the monastery, as we
have already arranged, be administered by deans according to the Abbot's
directions. Thus, with the duties being shared by several, no one person
will become proud. But if the circumstances of the place require it, or
if the community asks for it with reason and with humility, and the
Abbot judges it to be expedient, let the Abbot himself constitute as his
Prior whomsoever he shall choose with the counsel of God-fearing
brethren.

That Prior, however, shall perform respectfully the duties enjoined on
him by his Abbot and do nothing against the Abbot's will or direction;
for the more he is raised above the rest, the more carefully should he
observe the precepts of the Rule. If it should be found that the Prior
has serious faults, or that he is deceived by his exaltation and yields
to pride, or if he should be proved to be a despiser of the Holy Rule,
let him be admonished verbally up to four times. If he fails to amend,
let the correction of regular discipline be applied to him.

But if even then he does not reform, let him be deposed from the office
of Prior and another be appointed in his place who is worthy of it. And
if afterwards he is not quiet and obedient in the community, let him
even be expelled from the monastery. But the Abbot, for his part, should
bear in mind that he will have to render an account to God for all his
judgments, lest the flame of envy or jealousy be kindled in his soul.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/to-us-therefore-it-seems-expedient/
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