In the monastery authority lies with the abbot, who represents Christ. This means three things.
- The abbot must govern with the utmost care.
- The abbot is responsible for souls.
- The monks are to obey the abbot.
The abbot is like a shepherd, the Good Shepherd Himself. It is the abbot's job to shepherd the monks along the right path, that is, to make sure that they keep the Rule. He does this by word and example. Being a man of prayer, he feeds his sheep with knowledge and the wisdom of God. Being faithful to monastic discipline, he shows his sheep a good example. If a monk strays, the abbot is to correct him in an appropriate manner. Depending upon the temperament of the brother and the severity of the fault, the abbot must strike a balance between firmness and compassion, justice and mercy. Above all, though, love and kindness for the brother must prevail.
Holding such authority, the abbot is responsible for souls. He must be ever mindful that he will have to answer to God for how well or how poorly he has executed his office. If he does poorly, he will be culpable for not only his own faults but also those of his charges. Even though the abbot is vested with graces commensurate with the office, he must take care to cooperate with that grace.
Finally, the monks are to obey the abbot. They believe that God expresses His will for them through the abbot. To obey the abbot is to obey Christ Himself. Regardless of the command, the obedience is to be whole-hearted.
- How can the abbot -- a sinful man -- be an icon of Christ to the brothers? (PDF)
- Read the Rule of St. Benedict: English, Latin