The Rule of Saint Benedict

Tuere ought always to be reading whilst the brethren eat at table. Yet no one shall presume to read there from any book taken up at haphazard ; but whoever is appointed to read for the whole week is to enter on his office on theSunday. Let the brother when beginning his service after Mass and Communion ask all to pray for him, that God may preserve him from the spirit of pride. And let the following verse be thrice repeated by all in the oratory, he, the reader, first beginning: O Lord, Thou wilt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise"? then, having received a blessing, let the reader enter upon his office. The greatest silence shall be kept, so that no whispering, nor noise, save the voice of the reader alone, be heard there.

Whatever is required for eating and drinking the

brethren shall minister to each other so that no one

72 THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT

need ask for anything. Yet should anything be wanted it ought to be demanded by sign rather than by word. Let no one ask any question there about what is being read or about anything else, lest occasion be given to the evil one ; unless, perhaps, the prior shall wish to say something briefly for the purpose of edification. ‘The brother who is reader for the week may take a mess of potage before beginning to read, on account of Holy Communion, and lest perchance it may be too long for him to fast. He shall eat afterwards with the weekly servers and kitchen helpers. "The brethren, however, are not all to read or sing in course, but only such as may edify

the hearers.