Chapter 48:  Daily manual labor (paragraphs 6-7)

The superior should show understanding concern for their limitations. (From para. 7 of Ch. 48 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Having understanding concern for the limitations of others, say, in something as ordinary as housekeeping, or in something as significant as matters of the heart -- I must handle with the help of the Spirit, so that I don't project my own limitations, or interfere with the liberty of spirit that can redeem us all.

Chapter 48: Daily manual labor (paragraphs 3-5)

As a special provision during these days of Lent each member of the community is to be given a book from the library to read thoroughly each day in a regular and conscientious way. (From para. 4 of Ch. 48 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

For me, a discipline such as daily reading from only one book in a thorough, regular and conscientious way, would be a form of fasting from trivia and distraction, from dipping in and out of all forms of media, from surfing the web. I'm not sure it would even be a very realistic goal for me in the twenty-first century. But I can take to heart Benedict's instructions about of guarding my attention.

Chapter 48: Daily manual labor (paragraphs 1-2)

Idleness is the enemy of the soul. Therefore all the community must be occupied at definite times in manual labour and at other times in lectio divina. (From para. 1 of Chap. 48 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Don't waste my time on trivial things. Allow time to be holy, allow a wholesome rhythm to my life. Choose where to place my attention. At every moment.

Chapter 47: Signalling the times for the work of God

The superior is personally responsible for making sure that the time for the work of God, both at night at during the daytime, is clearly made known to all. (From para. 1 of Ch. 47 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

St Benedict challenges me to make clear to others the priority of the times for meditation in my life, especially when it means I have to resist the prevailing expectations of me. Or, I need to be clear with myself when I have to resist my own rationalizations about skipping meditation.

Chapter 46: Faults committed elsewhere

Any member of the community who in the course of some work in the kitchen, in the stores, while fulfilling a service to others or in the bakery, the garden or the workshops or anywhere else does something wrong or happens to break or lose something or to be guilty of some other wrongdoing, must as soon as possible appear before the superior and the community with a voluntary admission of the failure and willing reparation for it. (From para. 1 of Ch. 46 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

For me, this passage poses an examination of conscience: do I allow every task, every moment, every relationship to be an opportunity to work with love and gratitude?  Does I allow my work to mediate Christ's love for me, no matter how small the work seems? Am I alert to the difference it makes to my consciousness, and to those around me?

Chapter 45: Mistakes in the Oratory

Anyone who makes a mistake in a psalm, responsory, antiphon or reading must have the humility to make immediate reparation there before all the community in the oratory. A failure to do that so clearly shows lack of the humility to put right a fault which was due to carelessness that it must incur a more severe punishment. (From Ch. 45 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I think about how my distracted state of mind  -- a lack of presence -- interferes with meditation, or other work I do.  But am I alert to how my distracted state of mind diminishes relationship, diminishes community?

Chapter 44: The reconciliation of those excommunicated

They should in complete silence simply lay their heads on the ground before the feet of all the community coming out of the oratory and stay there until the superior judges that they have done enough in reparation. (From para. 1 of Ch. 44 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

What is "enough in reparation"? Something requiring silence and humility, according to Benedict. Silence and humility are the pathways to the heart, where right relationship with oneself, with God, with others, can begin to be restored.