Chapter 31: The qualities required by the cellarer (paragraph 1)
To qualify for this choice a candidate should be wise and mature in behaviour, sober and not an excessive eater, not proud nor apt to give offence nor inclined to cause trouble, not unpunctual, nor wasteful but living in the fear of God and ready to show the community all the love a father or mother would show to their family. (From para. 1 of Ch. 31 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
Living in the awareness of God, loving selflessly, looking after the community with the care of a parent -- I think such qualities make St. Benedict's descriptions of the cellarer the model of one who gives service. What is the transformation of the ego about, except to learn to serve?
"The person with a Benedictine tenor learns here to err on the side of largesse of spirit." (Joan Chittister). Abba, here, now, you have invited us to live with and be of service to our disabled daughter-in-law, our overburdened son and our eight and three-year-old grandsons. You remind me today to respond to your invitation, simply, quietly, cheerfully, and generously--with that "Benedictine tenor".
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