PENALTIES FOR DELINQUENT MONKS
A QUESTION CCCXII. Whether one ought to exhort laymen who visit us to pray. ANSWER. If they are friends of God, it is consistent, since the Apostle wrote to them: "Pray for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel" 76.
QUESTION CCCXIII. Whether it is right to work while some are visiting. ANSWER. Nothing of those things which are done by precept ought to be interrupted for the sake of those who visit us out of a sense of human duty; unless some peculiar care for a soul should be required, which, according to the command of the Lord, must be preferred to bodily labor, since the holy apostles say in the Acts: "It is not B reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables" 77.
PENALTIES
1. If any one in sound bodily health should neglect to pray or to learn the psalms, and should make excuses for his sins, let him be separated from the fellowship of the rest, or let him fast for one week.
2. If anyone is admonished with love about some fault, and yet does not accept the admonition, while asking with all reverence and begging for pardon for the things in which he has transgressed, let him also be separated from the community for one week.
3. If anyone has known of another's sin and has not corrected him, or reproved him in peace with the love of Christ, but rather in sadness and annoyance, as if triumphing over his brother rather than healing the author of the sin, let him also be separated from the rest for two weeks, along with him who was C found in sin: since he reproved him as an enemy and not as a brother.
4. If anyone abuses or contradicts when ordered by a brother to perform tasks within his power, and does not obey with all joy in Christ, as if fully persuading himself, let him similarly be separated for one week.
5. If anyone engages in idle talk or is given to facetiousness, not observing with fear and trembling the teaching D of the blessed Apostle and of the Gospels, let him also be separated from the others for one week.
6 If anyone, besides "yes" and "no," should swear another oath, let him also be separated for one week. A
7 If anyone is aware that a brother has committed a fault, and by way of exposing him, reproaches him when he approaches, let him, as one who is likewise moved by no compassion and rejoices in the misfortunes of others, be separated for one week.
8 If anyone is aware that someone has sinned, and sees that he bears it indifferently and is not propitiating the Lord with contrition of heart and many tears, let him exhort and remind him to repent and to show the fruits of repentance. But if, these things being done, he neglects his own salvation, let such a one be separated from the community altogether. For "a little leaven leavens the whole lump," as the holy man said.
9 If anyone goes out without necessary business and wanders about inopportunely, let such a one be separated, so that his feet may rest at home, as it is written. B
10 If anyone is angered rashly, and does not immediately comfort the brother he has made sad, so that he may forgive him the sin he committed against him, let him also be separated for one week.
11 If anyone has been treated with contumely by a brother and, being entreated by the community, does not forgive the sin, being mindful of Him who said: "If anyone has a complaint against any: even as Christ forgave," let him also be likewise separated for one week. C
12 If anyone goes out from the monastery without having received a blessing, or being released by the archimandrite with prayer, let him be excommunicated.
13 If anyone possesses anything within the monastery, or outside the monastery, let him be deprived of the fellowship of the rest.
14 If anyone joins himself with someone and contemplates leaving the monastery for some other evil purpose, let him be excommunicated.
15 If any of the overseers of the sleeping quarters finds someone causing disturbances or talking in the dormitory, and does not cast him out of the assembly, let him lack the blessing himself. D
16 If anyone lacks the blessing for the sake of correction, and out of contempt does not apologize and receive the blessing, let him be separated.
17 If anyone places something at the table or for himself,