On Excommunication for Faults
June 30
If a brother is found to be obstinate, or disobedient, or proud, or murmuring, or habitually transgressing the Holy Rule in any point and contemptuous of the orders of his seniors, the latter shall admonish him secretly a first and a second time, as Our Lord commands. If he fails to amend, let him be given a public rebuke in front of the whole community. But if even then he does not reform, let him be placed under excommunication, provided that he understands the seriousness of that penalty; if he is perverse, however, let him undergo corporal punishment.
Reflection
We live in communities outside the monastery, but this chapter has something important to tell us. Actually, we live in several communities, for example that of our family, our work, our neighbourhood, our parish. This chapter wishes to teach us to look out for those around us who need a friend at a difficult moment, a moment of suffering or isolation. With discreet and humble love we can try to share their problems and distress, to pray for, and perhaps also with them. Thus we shall begin to build real communities of brothers and sisters in Christ.
