[C]
<FRAGMENTS
OF CHAPTERS>
<i>
<THE CANONICAL HOURS>
<THE SILENCE TO BE MAINTAINED IN CHURCH>
. . . . Having already summarily reviewed by writs the items
related to the Hours within the church during the performance
of God's Work—inviolable at all times and of primary
importance by virtue of attention and prestige, for which the
Lord supplied the form and content—these matters regarding
God's Work seem worth adding: If it is summer time, it is
proper, upon completion of the Hours after which one normally
goes to the refectory, for all to sit silently in church. Then when
they hear the signal they should leave quietly, reverently giving
thanks to God. And in the said silence entering and sitting and
leaving the refectory, each should then attend to those matters
that the seasonal schedule calls for, or that he has been ordered
to do. But if it be winter, and getting warm is a vital necessity,
according as he who is in charge shall see fit either before or
after the completion of the Office, he shall allow some period
when they can warm themselves; but if not, let them wait in the
church, as above. And so, these additions to the subject.
<II>
<THE SILENCE TO BE MAINTAINED IN
DORMITORY AND WARMING ROOM>[192]
THE DORMITORY
On this subject, for those who honestly understand it,
everything can be embraced in the statement that at no time
should anything dishonest or dishonorable be done there. To
that end, some proprieties involving the time for conversation
should be recorded as a memorandum; these will suggest others
like them which should never be forgetfully disregarded.
Conversation there should always be guarded, whether two or
three or even many gather there, as they customarily do when
they rise from chapter. But when the time for sleeping arrives,
whether day or night, just as silence ought to be absolutely
preserved in speech, so too should one step with the utmost
caution, so that no one will suffer disturbance. No one is to
shake out his clothing, no one negligently sit up or lie down in
bed or make other like movements which cause needless
vibrations or any sort of unpleasant sound; but also at all times,
just as has been said, every precaution is to be taken there,
either out of due respect or because the weak need their rest.
It is necessary that when anyone happens to need rest there,
compelled by necessity, he should not be disturbed through the
discourtesy of another. So too, if anyone should lie down on his
bed to read, no one else should ever come up to him there to
talk; for because of the noise it is never right for one person far
away from another or for two people, one seated, the other
standing, to enter into conversation. They should respect the
customary good manners of the quarters.
These short notes have been selected from among the many
strictures to be observed in the dormitory in order that such
manners not be contemned by some simpletons as of no
account, or ossified by some authoritarians beyond what is
sensible. . . On every occasion they are to be enforced, not
gently, not only by the provost, dean, and other deans, but also
by the monitors appointed for the hours when the brothers are
away for lections.[193]
When it is necessary to use the warming room, nearly the
same care and courtesy in all things should be observed there as
we have stipulated for the dormitory, except as related to the act
of sleeping itself. Of course it happens that there are some
matters which particularly apply to those quarters, as, for
example, matters relative to the wet clothes hanging there, or to
the loungers and sleepers and those who neglect their reading
because of the pleasant warmth, or with respect to other
situations like these. From daily experience everyone should
know what needs to be said on that score if he wants to bring
such a gaggle to a sense of its bounden duty, however slightly.
Even when the "unseasonable hours" have passed and the
permissible time for conversation and fellowship has arrived,
still the well-known common courtesy is always to be observed
in word and deed there, just as in all other places, whether there
be few or many present. Such is never to be forgotten or
slighted.
END
Consuetudines Corbeienses
