Book I, Chapter XVII

Of a Monastic Life

1. Thou must learn to renounce thy own will in many things, if thou wilt keep peace and concord with others.

It is no small matter to lire in a monastery, or in a congregation, and to converse therein without reproof, and to persevere faithful till death. Blessed is he who has there lived well, and made a happy end. If thou wilt stand as thou oughtest, and make a due progress, look upon thyself as a banished man, and a stranger upon earth. Thou must be content to be made a fool for Christ, if thou wilt lead a religious life.

2. The habit and the tonsure contribute little; but the change of manners, and entire mortification of the passions, make a truly religious man. He that seeks here any other thing than purely God and the salvation of his soul, will find nothing but trouble and sorrow; neither can he long remain in peace, who does not strive to be the least, and subject to all.

3. Thou comest hither to serve, not to govern; know that thou art called to suffer and to labor, not to be idle and talkative. — Here, then, men are tried as gold in the furnace: here no man can stand, unless he be willing

4 with all his heart to humble himself for the lore of God.

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