Chapter 29: The readmission of any who leave the monastery

Anyone who is guilty of serious wrong by the personal decision to leave the monastery but then asks to be received back again must first of all promise full reparation for leaving the monastery. (From Ch. 29 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

I wonder what "full reparation" in this situation would be -- certainly not something material or financial. Maybe the kind of reparation of which Benedict speaks involves growth in self-knowledge, and transformation of consciousness in the one who left. That spiritual development could help heal the wounds to the community made by the trauma of disobedience and departure.