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The weekly chapter
(19) (13/14)
Whereas the monks attended a daily meeting in their chapter-house,
the lay-brothers only gathered on a Sunday, although they also assembled
on the days following Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, and might come
together during the week if, for example, a new recruit was to be received.
Whenever the abbot preached a sermon in the chapter-house, the lay-brothers
were expected to join the monks, but if there was not enough room for
everyone they were to stand outside in the cloister walk and listen through
the windows.
When the sacrist rang
the bell to call the monks to their Sunday chapter the lay-brothers assembled
in their own chapter-room, which
was probably located in the western range; some communities may
have met in
the refectory. Everyone entered and stood facing the east while
the ‘president’,
i.e. whoever was presiding, opened the meeting with the blessing
and thereafter gave a sermon; there was no reading from the Rule
of St Benedict which was
always read at the start of the monks’ chapter meeting. If any newcomers
were to be received they were introduced at this point. The recruit
prostrated himself before the president who highlighted the difficulties
that lay ahead
and prayed for his penance; the lay-brothers said Amen, the brother
novice then took his place amongst them and they prostrated themselves.
The chapter
of faults followed and dealt with any disciplinary matters including
disobedience at the workplace, breaches of silence or even inappropriate
physical conduct,
such as washing the hair of another lay-brother. This was only
permitted if a lay-brother was sick and unable to wash his hair
himself, and those
who disregarded the rule were flogged at the next chapter meeting.(20)
The Friday discipline (21)
A rather interesting feature of the lay-brother’s weekly routine was
the Friday discipline, a regular self-inflicted flogging when each
lay-brother voluntarily beat himself to atone for his sins. This was quite
distinct
from any punishment publicly meted out at the weekly chapter on a Sunday.
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