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22In order to preserve the unity of mutual love and peace, let all who hold offices in the monastery be chosen by the common agreement of all the sisters. 23In the same way, let at least eight sisters be elected from the more discerning whose counsel the abbess should be always bound to use in those matters which our form of life demands. 24Moreover, if it seems useful and expedient, the sisters can and should at times remove the officials and discreets and elect others in their place.a
[Chapter Five: Silence, the Parlor, and the Grille]
1Let the sisters keep silence from the hour of Compline until Terce, except those who are serving outside the monastery.b 2Let them also continually keep silence in the church, the dormitory, and the refectory only while they are eating.c 3At all times, however, they may be permitted to speak with discernment in the infirmary for the recreation and service of the sick.d 4Nevertheless, they may always and everywhere communicate whatever is necessary, briefly and in a quiet voice.e
5The sisters may not be permitted to speak in the parlor or at the grille without the permission of the abbess or her vicaress. 6Let those who have permission not dare to speak in the parlor except in the presence and hearing of two sisters. 7Moreover, let them not presume to go to the grille, unless there are present at least three sisters appointed by the abbess or her vicaress from the eight discreets who were elected by all the sisters for the
- The function of discreets is innovative with respect to the previous Forms of Life. According to the Consitutiones 6, the Lesser Brothers had already assumed a place for “discerning brothers” in their government. The Consuetudines XX indicates that the Dominican Nuns had done the same.
- The Rule of Stephen of Licy 47 contains this mandate: “Let silence be observed according to the places and times established…that is from Compline until the end of the morning chapter, let the brothers observe continual silence.” Cf. Stephen Licy, “Regula venerabilis viri Stephani Muretensis (1139/1163),” Scriptures Ordinis Grandimentensis. Corpus Christianorum. Continuatio Mediaevalis VIII. Edited by Jean Becquet (Brepolis: Turnhout, 1965), 89. Hereafter cited as Rule of Stephen of Licy. In his Rule for the Hermitages, Francis has a similar prescription: “And let them always say Compline of the day and, after Terce, they may end their silence.”
- The refectory served as a room for the celebration of chapter, for work, recreation, and other community activities.
- In Quoniam frequenter, Rainaldo prescribed: “Moreover, the weak, frail or sick Sisters and others appointed to look after them while they are sick are not obliged to maintain silence in the infirmary; this applies also to the Sisters who, when they come to visit and comfort them in their illness, are allowed to speak in the infirmary.”
- Cf. the Rule of Stephen Licy 47. The Lesser Brothers adopted a similar attitude: “it is lawful to indicate whatever is neccesary briefly and in a subdued voice,” cf. Constitutiones 53. The Dominican Nuns had the same: “Let the sisters keep silence in the oratory, enclosure, dormitory, and refectory unless, because of some need, they say something barely audible and briefly. Others can speak according to special permission and as much as needed.” Consuetudines XII.
Regula [Clarae], Fontes Franciscani, p. 2297-2298
22Ad conservandam unitatem mutuae dilectionis et pacis, de communi consensu omnium sororum omnes officiales monasterii eligantur. 23Et eodem modo octo ad minus sorores de discretioribus eligantur, quarum, in hiis quae forma vitae nostrae requirit, abbatissa uti consilio semper teneatur. 24Possint etiam sorores et debeant, si eis utile et expediens videatur, officiales et discretas aliquando removere et alias loco ipsarum eligere.
[Caput V De silentio ac de locutorio et crate].
1Ab hora completorii usque ad tertiam sorores silentium teneant, exceptis servientibus extra monasterium. 2Sileant etiam continue in ecclesia, dormitorio, in refectorio tantum dum comedunt; 3praeterquam in infirmaria, in qua pro recreatione et servitio infirmarum loqui discrete semper sororibus liceat. 4Possint tamen semper et ubique breviter submissa voce quod necesse fuerit insinuare.
5Non liceat sororibus loqui ad locutorium, vel ad cratem, sine licentia abbatissae vel eius vicariae. 6Et licentiatae ad locutorium loqui non audeant, nisi praesentibus et audientibus duabus sororibus. 7Ad cratem vero accedere non praesumant, nisi praesentibus tribus ad minus per abbatissam vel eius vicariam assignatis de illis octo discretis, quae sunt electae ab omnibus sororibus pro consilio abbatissae.