On the Daily Manual Labor
Mar. 28—July 28—Nov. 27
Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore the brethren should be
occupied at certain times in manual labor, and again at fixed hours in
sacred reading. To that end we think that the times for each may be
prescribed as follows.
From Easter until the Calends of October, when they come out from Prime
in the morning let them labor at whatever is necessary until about the
fourth hour, and from the fourth hour until about the sixth let them
apply themselves to reading. After the sixth hour, having left the
table, let them rest on their beds in perfect silence; or if anyone may
perhaps want to read, let him read to himself in such a way as not to
disturb anyone else. Let None be said rather early, at the middle of the
eighth hour, and let them again do what work has to be done until
Vespers.
And if the circumstances of the place or their poverty should require
that they themselves do the work of gathering the harvest, let them not
be discontented; for then are they truly monks when they live by the
labor of their hands, as did our Fathers and the Apostles. Let all
things be done with moderation, however, for the sake of the
faint-hearted.
Mar. 29—July 29—Nov. 28
From the Calends of October until the beginning of Lent, let them apply
themselves to reading up to the end of the second hour. At the second
hour let Terce be said, and then let all labor at the work assigned them
until None. At the first signal for the Hour of None let everyone break
off from his work, and hold himself ready for the sounding of the second
signal. After the meal let them apply themselves to their reading or to
the Psalms.
On the days of Lent, from morning until the end of the third hour let
them apply themselves to their reading, and from then until the end of
the tenth hour let them do the work assigned them. And in these days of
Lent they shall each receive a book from the library, which they shall
read straight through from the beginning. These books are to be given
out at the beginning of Lent.
But certainly one or two of the seniors should be deputed to go about
the monastery at the hours when the brethren are occupied in reading and
see that there be no lazy brother who spends his time in idleness or
gossip and does not apply himself to the reading, so that he is not only
unprofitable to himself but also distracts others. If such a one be
found (which God forbid), let him be corrected once and a second time;
if he does not amend, let him undergo the punishment of the Rule in such
a way that the rest may take warning.
Moreover, one brother shall not associate with another at unseasonable
hours.
Mar. 30—July 30—Nov. 29
On Sundays, let all occupy themselves in reading, except those who have
been appointed to various duties. But if anyone should be so negligent
and shiftless that he will not or cannot study or read, let him be given
some work to do so that he will not be idle.
Weak or sickly brethren should be assigned a task or craft of such a
nature as to keep them from idleness and at the same time not to
overburden them or drive them away with excessive toil. Their weakness
must be taken into consideration by the Abbot.