Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Monks' Rules (Author: Columbanus Hibernus)

Rule 9

9

He who utters an idle word, to be condemned to silence for the two following hours, or to twelve blows.

Let brethren doing penance, however hard and dirty the work they do, not wash their heads except on the Lord's day, that is, the eighth, but if not, on every fifteenth day, or certainly on account of the growth of flowing locks, let each employ the judgement of his senior in washing. For turning aside from the way without asking leave or receiving a blessing, six blows. If the immediate superior is made aware of minor penances at table, let him impose them there, and let no more than twenty-five blows be given at one time.

Brethren doing penance, and those who need a penance of psalms that is, one for whom it has been necessary that he should chant further psalms on account of a night dream, because of a devilish delusion, or because of the nature of his dream should, when they need a penance of psalms, chant, some thirty, some twenty-four psalms in order, some


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fifteen, others twelve; and thus these persons, as penitents, knee on the Lord's night and in the season of Easter-tide.

If a monk to whom his abbot or immediate superior has given commandment, repeats the same command to the brethren, it must be kept in such a way that the junior obey the senior; yet let him be careful to see whether what he has told them be correct. If the abbot or principal overseer commands something, and the deputy overseer repeats something else, the monk himself must obey, though silently pointing out what the other principal has commanded; but within the monastery, let none command with another overriding commandment, except him who bears supreme authority.

From day-break until night let there be one change of clothing, and another at night; let clothes be changed in private. He who serves on the Lord's Day or on another feast, for the ablutions or for any want, requires one prayer before leaving and entering. But let him ask leave. If he is not going far, he requires the sign of the cross. Although he crosses himself while walking, yet it is not necessary that he turn towards the East. Anyone going out of the house in a hurry and crossing himself, does not require a turning to the East. Let him also do so when he meets any in walking, if he is in a hurry, asking a prayer, and bowing himself. In the house, where genuflexion is not suitable, an inclination only will be enjoined.

If any wishes, let him prepare the offering of the Lord's Day on the day of the Sabbath; when the ablutions are over the priests are to change, if it is possible, but let the deacons perform their proper service either before or after the exhortation.

If anyone has had an unclean dream, or has been defiled, or is doing penance, when the exhortation is given, he is bidden to stand. But on the great festivals, when they hear the signal to sit during the daily exhortation, when it is almost half-way through, they are told to sit. Then when all hear the signal for the synaxis that begins the day's assemblies, let them wash before entering the oratory, unless they have already washed. A cantor will be appointed to lead the chanting, and a subcantor; and let there be no bending of the knee, but only an inclination. Let the ranks who are senior be in the middle of the oratory, and the rest


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stand by on right and left, except for the celebrant and him who serves him. And on every dominical festival let the hymn of the Lord's Day be sung, and on the opening day of Easter-tide. Now let him who has begun to approach the altar, to receive the sacrifice, prostrate himself thrice. And let novices, because they are untrained, and any who are such, not approach the chalice, and when the oblation is offered, let none be compelled by force to receive the sacrifice, except in case of necessity. And on every Lord's Day and festival, let him who has not been in the assembly of the brethren as they pour out prayers to the Lord, pray by himself, if some need compels him. And during the oblation let there not be much movement. A penitent also, when overtaken by the necessity of a journey, and walking with the rest who are lawfully using food, if the third hour has come and they are making a long march, let him also receive some measure of food for a portion, and let him receive what is lacking to it when he goes to rest.

But all the brethren together, every day and night at the time of prayers, on the ending of all psalms, should uniformly bend their knees in prayer, if bodily weakness does not prevent it, saying in silence, O God make speed to save me, Lord make haste to help me.’’

Ps. 69. 1

And after they have chanted this verse silently thrice in prayer, let them rise uniformly from their bending in prayer, except on the Lord's Days and from the first day of holy Easter up to the fiftieth day, on which, while they bow themselves slightly in time of psalmody, let them without bending their knees pray carefully to the Lord.