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Shorter Rules

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Rule 281: Should the Sister Who Does Not Want to Sing Psalms Be Compelled to?

If she does not come with alacrity to the singing and if in her is not apparent the disposition of him who said: “How sweet are thy words unto my throat, sweeter than honey to my mouth,”2 and if she does not think idleness a great loss, then let her either correct herself or else be expelled, lest a little leaven corrupt the whole lump.

Notes

  1. The only person entitled to ask such a question would be the Superior of a double monastery, responsible through the Mother-Superior for the discipline of the women. We conclude that the Shorter Rules represent the proceedings at a General Chapter of Superiors, presided over by Basil. See F. 54 and Intr. p. 17.
  2. Ps. cxix. 103. Sw.’s (ℵ) text adds καὶ κήριον, Bas. omits with ℵca AT.

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