“None of the brothers is to occupy a cell other than that allotted to him
or to exchange cells with another, without leave of whoever is
Prior at the time.”--the Rule, Chapter 8
or to exchange cells with another, without leave of whoever is
Prior at the time.”--the Rule, Chapter 8
Is there anything more to this chapter behind what it says straightforward? “None of the brothers is to occupy a cell. . .” Sometimes there may really be nothing hidden between the lines, behind the lenses of history, or cloaked in theological mysteries. We might be able to squeeze out some profundity with regard to the relationship of the individual and the community, but I think this is a chapter that is best taken for what it says on the surface; Sometimes simplicity is truly simple, and practical matters are solved quite practically.
In the correspondence that Albert received from the brothers, there likely were some problems of brothers moving cells, or of taking cells from one another. In a place like the Wadi of Carith, it is not hard to imagine that there were some cells and caves that were much nicer, roomier, more comfortable, and choicer than others. Is it hard then to imagine some conflict or maneuvering of the cells? Is it hard to imagine that this is Albert’s way of saying, “Stop it. Accept what you are given and do not use it to abuse your brothers, or to play political games with your brothers, or to set yourself up higher than any one of your brothers. But accept the gifts that God has given to you and live in Peace with one another; and stop bickering over the cell that the Prior has given you.”
In the correspondence that Albert received from the brothers, there likely were some problems of brothers moving cells, or of taking cells from one another. In a place like the Wadi of Carith, it is not hard to imagine that there were some cells and caves that were much nicer, roomier, more comfortable, and choicer than others. Is it hard then to imagine some conflict or maneuvering of the cells? Is it hard to imagine that this is Albert’s way of saying, “Stop it. Accept what you are given and do not use it to abuse your brothers, or to play political games with your brothers, or to set yourself up higher than any one of your brothers. But accept the gifts that God has given to you and live in Peace with one another; and stop bickering over the cell that the Prior has given you.”
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