DE L'INTERPRETATION D'UNE REGLE MONASTIQUE [1]

 Dans une période de renouveau comme celle que nous vivons actuellement, on peut constater au sein d'un même Ordre, et même au sein d'une même communauté, des attitudes assez divergentes à l'égard de la Règle de saint Benoît, bien que tous cependant reconnaissent cette Règle comme la charte fondamentale de leur vie.

 THE INTERPRETATION OF A MONASTIC RULE [1] 

THE GENERAL CHAPTER of 1967, during its twenty-sixth session, affirmed that the Rule of St Benedict remains the basis of our Cistercian legislation [1] . The same General Chapter also approved a certain number of experiments or adaptations, some of which constitute a departure from a literal observance of the Rule. This raises the question of fidelity to the Rule, a question which concerns every facet of our monastic life. All its dimensions must be studied.

 THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF FIDELITY  (with special reference to the theology of abbacy)

 (Cistercian Studies 4 (1969), 286‑298 )

 What the Gospels say about authority in the Church and obedience is clear and sacrosanct, and no serious person would dream of questioning it, But the way it is presented, theologically and ascetically, takes on different forms and shapes in each age. Further, in the course of centuries a certain symbolic language and imagery have been developed to describe the function of the religious superior.

 THE ABBATIAL OFFICE IN CENOBITIC LIFE [1]

 During the last three years the practice of daily concelebration has become standard practice in most monasteries. In many places this has presented a problem: should the abbot preside at this concelebration or should it be left to the hebdomadary? The few surveys that have been made show that already there is a wide variety of solutions to the question.