On Those Who Will Not Amend After Repeated Corrections
Mar. 5—July 5—Nov. 4
If a brother who has been frequently corrected for some fault, and even
excommunicated, does not amend, let a harsher correction be applied,
that is, let the punishment of the rod be administered to him.
But if he still does not reform or perhaps (which God forbid) even rises
up in pride and wants to defend his conduct, then let the Abbot do what
a wise physician would do. Having used applications, the ointments of
exhortation, the medicines of the Holy Scriptures, finally the cautery
of excommunication and of the strokes of the rod, if he sees that his
efforts are of no avail, let him apply a still greater remedy, his own
prayers and those of all the brethren, that the Lord, who can do all
things, may restore health to the sick brother.
But if he is not healed even in this way, then let the Abbot use the
knife of amputation, according to the Apostle’s words, “Expel the evil
one from your midst,” and again, “If the faithless one departs, let him
depart,” lest one diseased sheep contaminate the whole flock.