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Longer Rules

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Rule 45: That After the Superior There Must Be Another Who When He is Absent or Engaged…

Since it often happens, either through bodily infirmity or the necessity of taking a journey or for some other reason, that the brotherhood is deprived of its Superior,¹ let another² be chosen, after full consideration by the Superior and others able to decide,³ for this purpose, that in the Superior’s absence he may take over the care of the brethren, so that those who remain there may have one from whom to receive the consolations of the word. This will ensure that the brotherhood does not assume a democratic appearance⁴ in the absence of the Superior, violating the rule and the traditional discipline; and that the accepted regulations are kept, to the glory of God; and that when strangers visit the monastery there is one to answer wisely, that they who seek the word may be edified in a manner worthy of the occasion, and that the community of the brethren be not put to shame. For that all alike should rush to speak causes disorders and argues lack of discipline, and the apostle did not allow even those who had been counted worthy to receive the grace of teaching to speak at once, saying: “But if a revelation be made to another, let the first keep silence,”⁵ and again he rebukes the wrongness of this lack of discipline in these words: “If therefore the whole Church be assembled together, and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned and unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?”⁶

And if through ignorance a stranger addresses his questions to another, even if he who is directly questioned is able to answer fully, let him nevertheless keep silence for the sake of discipline, and let him point out the monk who is entrusted with this duty, as the apostles did in the presence of the Lord, so that speech may be used in an orderly and becoming manner. For if, where bodily healing is concerned, it is not every man’s duty to apply drugs or the knife to the sick, but the duty of him who has acquired the art by spending a long period of time and by experience and practical work and the teaching of skilled exponents, how can it be right that just any one should hasten to heal by the word? Wherein the slightest error brings the greatest harm. Where even the distribution of bread is not entrusted to chance comers but such ministry is assigned to one man entrusted with it after full consideration, among such men how is it not much more necessary that spiritual food be brought to those who ask it with care and circumspection by one of those best qualified? So that it argues no ordinary arrogance if, when a man is asked about the judgment of God, he dares to answer boldly and casually instead of referring to him who has been entrusted with the ministration of the word, who because he is absolutely faithful and a wise steward has been chosen to give our spiritual food in due season⁷ and to administer his words in judgment, as Scripture says.⁸ And if something escapes the notice of him who should answer, and another notices it, let him not hasten to put him right, but tell privately what has occurred to him.⁹ For this causes feelings of pride in inferiors against their superiors, so that if a man gives an answer which is useful but not fitting he deserves the penalties of violated discipline.

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