Regula Secunda

SECOND RULE. Before all things, dearest brothers, let God be loved, and then the neighbor, because these precepts are given to us principally. How, however, we ought to pray or to sing the psalms, we describe: that is, at matins, Psalms 62, 6, and 88 are to be said, with their proper antiphons, verses, and responsories. At prime and terce, their own psalms are to be said, two antiphons, two lessons. In a similar manner, at sext and none, their own psalms are to be said, with their proper responsories and antiphons. The same is to be observed at vespers and compline. At the lucernarium, however, one psalm, one responsory, three antiphons, three lessons. And at a suitable time after the lucernarium, with all sitting, lessons are to be read. For the night offices, in the months of November, December, January, and February: twelve antiphons, six psalms, three lessons. In March, April, September, October: ten antiphons, five psalms, three lessons. In May, June, July, and August: eight antiphons, four psalms, two lessons. 2. They are to work from morning until sext, and from sext until none they are to be free for reading, and at none they are to return the codices. And after they have eaten, whether in the garden or wherever it is necessary, they are to do work until the hour of the lucernarium. Let no one claim anything as his own, whether in clothing or in any thing whatsoever. For we wish to live the apostolic life (Acts 11:43).

Let no one do anything with murmuring, lest he perish by a judgment similar to that of murmurers. Let them obey faithfully. Let them honor their father next after God. Let them defer to their Provost as is fitting for a holy man. Sitting at table, let them be silent, listening to the reading. But if anything should be needed, let their Provost be solicitous for it. On Saturday and the Lord’s Day, as is the custom, those who wish may receive wine. If it should be necessary to send someone for some need of the monastery, let two go. Let no one eat or drink outside the monastery without permission, for this does not pertain to the discipline of the monastery. If the brothers are sent to sell the works of the monastery, let them carefully observe that they do nothing against the precept, knowing that they provoke God in his servants. Or if they buy anything for the need of the monastery, let them act carefully and faithfully as servants of God. Let there be no idle word among them. From morning let them sit at their work; after the prayer of Terce, let them go likewise to their work. Let them not stand and weave tales, unless perhaps something be for the benefit of the soul; but sitting at their work, let them be silent, unless perhaps the necessity of the work requires that someone speak. But if anyone, with the help of God’s mercy, has not striven to fulfill these things with all his strength, but has scorned them with a contumacious spirit, having been warned once and again, if he has not corrected himself, let him know that he is subject to the discipline of the monastery as is fitting. But if his age be such, let him also be beaten.

But faithfully and piously observing these things in the name of Christ, you will make progress, and we will have no small joy in your salvation. Amen. These are the things which we command you to observe when established in the monastery. First, etc.