Echoes from the Bell Tower

One thing St. Benedict insists on is humility, which goes hand-in-glove with obedience. The Rule’s longest chapter is entitled On Humility (RB 7). In RB 45, from which I quote above (On Mistakes in the Church) we read that the monk must acknowledge his mistakes – even simple errors that negatively impact others or inconvenience the community in some way. Not sinful acts, but flubs and blunders that happen because we weren’t paying attention, were distracted, or we failed to properly prepare. As a frequent cantor in the Archabbey Church I have had ample opportunity to make mistakes, it’s happened too many times to count! But not just cantors - lectors can read poorly at the liturgy because they didn’t take the time to prepare the reading; table servers can drop or spill things, not because they intended it, but perhaps because they weren’t being careful or attentive. We all make mistakes – but in our society today, it seems to have become acceptable for people to refuse accountability for one’s mistakes. To fail to acknowledge one’s mistakes can lead to unnecessary strife among co-workers and families.

Monks are expected by St. Benedict to acknowledge one’s mistakes and, in a simple way to “make satisfaction” for the blunder. For our community, this entails kneeling, or standing if one is unable to kneel, in front of the ambo (reader’s stand) in church while the community files out of the choir stalls at the end of a service, or in front of the head table in the dining room (monastic refectory) while the monks are reciting the meal prayer. The community, on their part, are to pray for the brother that he won’t be overwhelmed by feelings of guilt or needless embarrassment, but rather will benefit from his humble act of satisfaction, which, if done with a well-intentioned mindset, fortifies the monk in humility.

I am edified and encouraged when I witness a confrere – the elderly, the young, even a superior – humble himself before the community to acknowledge and make satisfaction for a mistake in the church or refectory. This simple act of “kneeling out” or standing-out” (as we call it) provides the community an example of true and authentic humility – the monk’s ladder – by which he will ascend and “attain speedily that exaltation in heaven to which we climb by humility in this present life.” (RB 7:5).