Regula Ad Virgines

The Rule of Saint Aurelian for Virgins. Prologue. To the holy sisters, venerable in Christ, established in the monastery of the blessed Mary which, by God’s command, we have built within the walls of the city of Arles, Aurelian, bishop. Because, by God’s inspiration, who precedes us with his ineffable mercy, it has seemed good to you that, having rejected the pleasures of the world and having despised or spurned temporal joys, you should choose the splendor of the most holy life, and, embracing the grace of virginity and chastity, pursuing it with all the eagerness of your hearts and bowels out of love for God, you should subdue your flesh with divine fear, holding to that saying: “I have sworn and resolved to keep the judgments of your justice” (Psalm 118); and, “The world is crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6): we have determined, by the Lord’s command and with him working in us the will and the accomplishment, to build a monastery for you for the progress of your souls, as indeed we have done. And therefore we have established a Rule for you for discipline, which would teach you to run the way of God’s commandments through yourselves, and would make you arrive happily at the kingdoms of heaven.

Here begin the chapters of the Rule. i. Whoever comes for conversion and asks to be received into the monastery, the Rule shall first be read to her in the refectory; once she has been received, she shall not leave the monastery until her death. She shall not receive the religious habit unless she makes charters concerning her property to whomever she wishes. Nothing shall be accepted in secret; but if something has been sent, and it is not necessary for the one to whom it is sent, it shall be brought into the common store and given to whomever has need of it. Letters shall neither be given nor received without the knowledge or permission of the abbess. No one shall store near her bed anything that can be eaten or drunk. No one shall have a cell or a little cupboard of her own. There shall be no swearing. There shall be no cursing. There shall be no lying. Anger shall not be harbored at all. ii. A sister shall not lay hands on a sister. No one shall be allowed to go out to greet someone except with the provost or some senior sister.

A female slave shall not be received; however, if she is a freedwoman, and it seems good to the abbess, she may be received. Neither men nor secular women shall enter the monastery, except into the basilica of Our Lady and into the parlour. Nor shall it be permitted even to the stewards themselves to enter the monastery, except for those purposes which we have established in this rule. Infants shall not be received from baptism. Those who are placed in office shall receive the keys of the gospel. In the ministry, they shall succeed one another in turns, except for the abbess and small children. No one shall choose works to be done according to her own will, but what has been commanded by the abbess or the prioress. When they work with their hands, holy meditation shall not cease from the heart. All things shall be common to you, and no one shall presume to call or claim anything as her own. Garments shall not be worn in any other colour except grey and white. In the vigils, care shall be taken that no one sleeps.

When the signal has been struck, let no one come late. While the psalm is being sung, let no one speak, nor work with their hands. Let all learn their letters. The holy abbess shall remain in the community. If any sister is corrected or chastised for any fault, let her not presume to answer the one who is reproving her. Let you have no quarrels. The proud, the disobedient, and those who prolong anger are never to be spared. The holy abbess is not permitted to sell or give away anything from the monastery's resources; nor to do anything contrary to the established rule. While sitting at table, let them be silent. The holy abbess shall not take her meals apart from the community. Let them never eat meat in their meals. Chickens and other fowl are to be served only to the sick and the delicate; fish, however, on certain feast days. Outside the common meal, let no one taste any food or drink, except the sick and the infants. How the sick are to be cared for. Where they are to say the day or night office.

Let the holy abbess provide whatever is necessary with sufficiency. Let the holy congregation strive to fulfill all that has been established. THE RULE. CHAPTER THE FIRST. By God’s command, we have first of all established that this is to be inviolably kept: that if anyone comes for conversion, the Rule shall be read to her in the parlatory, and if she professes that she will fulfill everything, then she shall be received. Once received, she shall neither presume nor be permitted to leave the monastery until her death, on account of that prophetic saying: “One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Ps. 26). II. She shall not receive the religious habit unless she has first disposed of all her property, whether great or small; she may make deeds of donation or sale to whomever she wishes, on account of the Lord’s commandments, where He says: “If you wish to be perfect, sell everything you have” (Matt. 19); and, “If anyone does not leave behind all that he possesses, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14).

III. You shall receive nothing in secret: but if any relative or friend gives or sends something, whether in clothing or in gold, or anything else whatsoever, it shall be at the disposal of the holy abbess; and if the person to whom it is sent has need of it, it shall be granted to her; but if she lacks nothing, it shall be given to the common fund and assigned to whoever has need of it. IV. We command that letters be neither given nor received without the knowledge or permission of the holy abbess. V. No one shall presume to store by her bed anything that can be eaten or drunk; but all shall store such things in the common storeroom; and if inequality requires it, at the command of the senior, what is necessary shall not be denied to her. VI. No one shall be allowed to have a cell or a cupboard, or anything of this kind that can be locked up more privately. VII. You shall not swear, because the Lord said: Do not swear (Matt. 5). And another scripture: A man who swears much will be filled with iniquity, and a plague will not depart from his house (Ecclus. 23).

VIII. You shall not curse, because it is written: “Those who curse shall not possess the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6). IX. It shall not be permitted to lie at all, because “the mouth that lies kills the soul” (Wis. 1), and also: “You will destroy those who speak falsehood” (Ps. 5). X. No one shall presume to prolong anger until the next day. And, as human frailty has it, if a harsher word arises among the sisters, they shall hasten to ask forgiveness of one another and to remit what is owed, because of the Lord’s command, where He says: “If you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to your brother; and then, coming back, you shall offer your gift” (Matt. 5). And: “If you do not forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will not forgive you your sins” (Matt. 6). Likewise: “If he has sinned against you seven times in a day, and, turning back, says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” (Luke 17). And: “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matt. 18). And another scripture: “The anger of a man does not cover the justice of God” (Jas. 1). And the Apostle: “Let not the sun go down upon your anger” (Eph. 4). Which may God avert, if, at the instigation of the devil, any sister should be filled with fury so as to contemn these commands with a stubborn heart; and if one of those who are in discord has anticipated the other, asking her forgiveness, and she to whom she asks does not forgive, she shall receive discipline, so that she may correct herself toward charity.

And if both disregard it, both alike shall be suspended from communion or from food, until they are reconciled to one another. XI. If a sister dares to strike a sister with her hand, she shall receive discipline. XII. No one is permitted to go out to greet anyone, except with the abbess or the prioress, or certainly with any other senior sister whom the abbess has instructed. And they shall see or speak to their relatives in such a way that they do not speak in a louder voice. XIII. A maidservant is not to be excepted; however, if she is a freedwoman, still young in age, and comes with letters from her patron, it shall be at the discretion of the abbess whether she should be received. XIV. Neither secular men nor women are to enter the monastery, except into the basilica of the Blessed Mary and into the parlor. XV. Moreover, the stewards of the monastery, if they are in lay attire, are not themselves permitted to enter, except for those purposes which we have established in this Rule, with masons or carpenters, if something needs to be made or repaired, or certainly for some business of the abbess they may enter; otherwise, they shall have no permission or freedom to enter.

XVI. No one shall receive an infant from baptism. XVII. To whom the keys of the cellar, the wine-cellar, the granary, the postern gate, and the oratory are to be entrusted: let them be proven persons; and let them receive them upon the altar or the Gospel, knowing that they will render an account to God for the ministry entrusted to them. XVIII. In every ministry or order of singing, or reading, or working, let them succeed one another in turns; except for the abbess, or apart from the very old and little infants, or certainly those so infirm that they cannot rise at all, they shall not be compelled to do what they cannot manage. XIX. No one shall choose works to be done according to her own will, but what the abbess has commanded, that they shall do. XX. Throughout the whole day, when you work with your hands, holy meditation shall not cease from the heart; on account of that saying of the Apostle: singing and chanting psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles in your hearts to the Lord (Col. 3). XXI. No one shall presume to call anything her own, or to claim anything as her own property; but according to the Acts of the Apostles, let all things be common to you: let there be for you one soul and one heart in the Lord (Acts 4).

XXII. Do not wear garments of any color other than white and linen. XXIII. At vigils, let no one sleep: if it is the Lord’s day or a feast day, and sleep comes upon anyone, while the others are seated, let her stand, so that she may shake off the drowsiness of sleep from herself; lest she be found either tepid or negligent in the work of God. XXIV. When the signal is struck, let all work be set aside, and like the most prudent bees to the hive, hasten with swift speed; if any comes more slowly, she shall be subject to strict discipline. XXV. While psalmody is sung, let your holy souls strive not to wander in mind, and indeed let them not presume to work or speak; but sing wisely (Psalm 46), as the prophet said: “I will sing and understand” (Psalm 100), and that: “I will sing in spirit, I will sing with mind” (1 Corinthians 14), fearing this: “Cursed is the man who does the work of God negligently” (Jeremiah 48). XXVI. Let all learn letters. XXVII. Let the holy abbess not remain outside the congregation.

XXVIII. If any sister is rebuked for any fault or transgression of the rule, or receives discipline, she shall not presume to answer the one rebuking her: because the sin that is punished here is not punished in the eternal judgment. And you ought to receive care for the soul just as a sick person receives the care of a physician: holding to that saying of holy Scripture: “He who rejects discipline is wretched” (Prov. 15). And that: “I am ready for the scourges” (Ps. 37). XXIX. You shall have no quarrels, holding to the precept of the Apostle, who says: “It is not fitting for a servant of the Lord to quarrel, but to be gentle” (II Tim. 1). XXX. The proud, the disobedient, and those who prolong their anger are never to be spared until they are corrected. XXXI. The holy abbess is not permitted to give away or sell anything from the monastery’s resources, nor to do anything contrary to the rule’s institutions. But if she attempts to do so, by the holy counsel and unanimous consent of the sisters, with our permission, you shall not acquiesce to her; and you shall permit this to be done for no reason: because she shall know that she will have to answer for the matter before God.

XXXII. While sitting at table, they shall be silent, and a reading shall be done daily at all times when food is taken. Both the outer man is to be refreshed by food, and the inner man by the word of God, because it is written: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Matt. IV). XXXIII. The holy abbess, unless by reason of inequality, shall not take refreshment outside the community. XXXIV. Meat shall never be taken as food. XXXV. Fowl or all kinds of poultry shall not be served in the community, except they be provided only for the sick and the delicate. Fish, however, shall be procured on certain feast days, or when the abbess wishes to grant an indulgence. XXXVI. Outside the common table, it is not permitted to taste any food or drink, except for the sick and those who are of minor age. XXXVII. For the sick, it is to be so arranged that, if it seems just to the holy abbess, they may even have their own cellarer in common, and a separate kitchen; and care or attention shall be devoted to them until they recover.

XXXVIII. The congregation shall recite the daily and nightly office, that is, matins, vigils, nocturns, vespers, and the twelfth hour, in the basilica of Our Lady Mary. But if the winter is harsh, only matins, vespers, and the twelfth hour are to be said in the said basilica; however, prime, terce, sext, and none are to be said in the inner oratory, on account of those who either wish to pray, or meet with the abbess, or seek their relatives. When any sister has died, a few sisters shall keep vigil with her in the oratory until midnight, and Masses from the Apostle shall be said; after midnight, those who have kept vigil shall rest; and then others shall keep vigil, and make this known to the holy bishop, so that he may order her to be carried to the place where she is to be laid. XXXIX. And because, by God’s grace, ample and sufficient resources have been granted to you, which can suffice for your monastery, before God and his angels I admonish and charge you, holy abbess, and you, venerable prioress, whoever you may be, to provide to the holy congregation, which, by God’s inspiration and command, lives regularly according to the institutes we have made, all things necessary for them in clothing and in food, with sufficiency. If you neglect this matter, and they begin, compelled by necessity, to murmur or to be in want, know that you will have to plead the cause with me before the tribunal of Christ.

XL. And you, holy congregation, I adjure by your progress and by Almighty God, that you keep whole and inviolate everything we have established in this Rule for the remedy of our soul and for the salvation of your souls. And lest you neglect anything through forgetfulness, read it once a month, that is, on the Kalends, and thus twelve times a year. We have also judged it fitting to insert in this little book the order in which you ought to chant. On the first day of Easter at Terce: Kyrie eleison, twelve psalms: that is, four sisters shall say two psalms each and a third alleluiaticum; after the psalms have been said, Kyrie eleison, six antiphons, three lessons: one from the Acts of the Apostles, another from the Apocalypse, a third from the Gospel; the hymn *Jam surgit hora tertia*, and the capitellum, then Kyrie eleison. Thus in every Office say Kyrie eleison three times before you begin, and after the psalms have been said and the capitellum completed. At Sext the same number of psalms, and one antiphon, the hymn *Jam sexta sensim volvitur*, a lesson from the Gospel, and the capitellum. At None the same order shall be kept, the hymn *Ter hora trina volvitur*. At Lucernarium a little directaneus, that is, *Regna terræ*, *Cantate Deo*, *Psallite Domino* (Psalm 67). On another day: *Laudate, pueri, Dominum*, three antiphons; the hymn *Hic est dies vernus Dei*, and the capitellum; say this hymn throughout Easter at Matins and at Lucernarium.

First, at the twelfth hour, the little directaneus: "The sun knows its setting" (Psalm 103). Six sisters shall say two psalms each with their alleluiatic verses; three antiphons, two lessons, one from the Apostle, the other from the Gospel. At the Paschal nocturns, say everything in the same number as we have designated for the twelfth hour. At matins, first the directaneus for the day: "I will exalt you, my God and my King." Then, "Judge me, O God." "My God, my God, I keep watch for you at dawn" with alleluia; then, "Confess to the Lord," with alleluia; then, "Let us sing to the Lord," with alleluia; afterwards, "Praise, my soul, the Lord." "Praise the Lord, for he is good" is a psalm. "Praise, Jerusalem, the Lord": all three with alleluia, then the blessing is to be said. After the blessing, "Praise the Lord from the heavens." "Sing to the Lord a new song." "Praise the Lord in his saints": with alleluia. "My soul magnifies the Lord": either with an antiphon or with alleluia; the hymn, "Glory to God in the highest"; and the capitellum. And you will complete matins in this same order throughout all of Easter. Thus on every Lord's Day, and on all greater festivals, on which you will rest from work. On ordinary days, at nocturns, first the directaneus shall be said: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy"; then eighteen psalms; three little antiphons, two lessons from the Apostle or the Prophets, and the capitellum. When nocturns are completed, you will say matins.

In summer, that is, after Easter until the Kalends of October, the same order shall be observed. On the sixth feria, however, after the night office, two masses shall be said in summer; in winter, three. For on the Lord's Day, at all times, both in summer and in winter, six masses shall be said after the night office. If it should happen that they rise for vigils later, as much as shall seem fit to the abbess, so much shall be read. When the abbess has given the signal, the one who is reading shall rise without delay, so that the canonical number of masses may be fulfilled. From the Kalends of October, additional night offices are to be added; at the first, this is to be said: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy"; at the second: "Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me." Eighteen psalms, two lessons from the Prophets or from Solomon. The hymn at the first night office: "Eternal Lord King"; at the second: "Great and Wonderful." There, after the second night office has been celebrated, because the nights are growing longer, daily perform three masses from the book. One sister shall read pages, either four, or as the measure of the book shall be: if it is written in a small hand, or in a larger format, three pages; if in a smaller, four, and a prayer shall be said. Again she shall read the same amount, another prayer shall be said; a third time she shall read the same amount; and rise, say an antiphon from the psalms in order, then a responsory, then an antiphon. Then another sister shall read; and thus, when the three masses are completed, say the canonical matins: that is, first a canticle with an antiphon; then the directaneus: "Judge me, O God. O God, my God, to you I keep watch at daybreak.

Praise, my soul, the Lord. Praise the Lord, for the psalm is a burden. Praise Jerusalem, the Lord; then, Praise the Lord from the heavens. Sing to the Lord a new canticle. Praise the Lord in his saints, with an antiphon. Say the hymn: Splendor paternæ gloriæ; on another day: Æterne lucis conditor, and a capitellum, and Kyrie eleison twelve times. On all ordinary days this shall be fulfilled. After matins, at prime, six psalms shall be said, and the hymn: Fulgentis auctor ætheris; two lessons: that is, one from the Old, the other from the New Testament, and a capitellum. After this, all shall be free for reading until the third hour; in the remaining part of the day they shall do their work, according to what the Lord said: My father works until now, and I work (John 5). And that of the Apostle: Working with our hands (1 Thess. 4). And, He who does not work, let him not eat (2 Thess. 3). For it is written: The ways of the idle are strewn with thorns (Prov. 13). And, Cast the useless servant into outer darkness (Matt. 25).

On ordinary days, at Terce, say six psalms, an antiphon, a hymn, "Now the third hour is rising," a reading, and a little chapter, "Let it be, Lord." At Sext, the same number of psalms is to be kept: an antiphon is to be said, a hymn, "Now the sixth hour is slowly turning," a reading, and a little chapter. At None, this order is to be observed: the hymn, "The third hour is now turning thrice." At Lucernarium, at all times, both on feasts and on ordinary days, first a direct psalm; afterwards two antiphons. The third is always to be said with alleluia, a hymn, one day: "God, who by fixed laws"; another day say: "God, the creator of all," and a little chapter. At Compline, say eighteen psalms: an antiphon, a hymn, a reading, and a little chapter. When you are at rest, in the School in which you remain, Compline is to be said; first a direct psalm, and the ninetieth psalm is to be said, then the customary little chapters. On the Nativity of the Lord and on Epiphany, rise at the third hour of the night: say one nocturn, and do six masses from the prophet Isaiah; again say a second nocturn, and let another six be read from the Gospel. On Epiphany, thus: first one nocturn; then from the prophet Daniel do those six masses and nocturns, and again six from the Gospel. Matins in that order as we wrote for Easter, or on Sundays. On the festivals of martyrs, three or four masses are to be done: read the first mass from the Gospel; the rest from the passions of the martyrs.

Every sixth day after the twelfth hour, six Masses are to be read from the book, and after the night offices, three. Every Sabbath at Matins, "Cantemus Domino" and "Te Deum laudamus." At Terce, three readings: one from the Prophets, another from the Apostle, the third from the Gospel is said. Every Lord's Day after the night offices with the first Mass is read, that is, the Resurrection; let no one presume to sweat, but all stand; another Lord's Day, another Resurrection: thus in order all four Resurrection readings are read through each Lord's Day. After Terce, however, say the "Pater noster," and all communicate while singing. Likewise on feast days easily. Masses, however, shall then be held when it seems fit to the holy abbess. We have also inserted the order of the meal into this Rule. Daily dishes for the meal: three; for lunch, two; for dinner, two drinks. For the meal in summer, in the months of July and August, three small loaves; for lunch, three; for dinner, two at all times. On feast days, however, and when the abbess wishes to grant indulgences, let her order as many foodstuffs as she wishes, and add fresh ones. On ordinary days, however, dishes are always to be seasoned with vegetables, cheese, and oil. Fasting, however, from the Kalends of September until the Kalends of November on the second, fourth, and sixth day. From the Kalends of November until the Lord's Nativity, it is to be fasted daily, except on Sabbath and Lord's Day. From the Epiphany, however, until Easter, it is to be fasted daily, except on a major feast day, Sabbath, and Lord's Day.

After Easter, however, until Pentecost, only on the sixth day is fasting to be observed. After Pentecost, in the months of June, July, and August, it shall be in the power of the abbess whether to break the fast or to have a meal: as she sees the capability of the sisters, she shall strive to accommodate that.