Thursday, December 7, 2017

Chapter 55: Clothing and footwear for the community (paragraphs 1-2)


The community must not be too sensitive about the colour and quality of this clothing; they should be content with what is available in the locality at a reasonable cost. However the superior should see to it that the garments are not short and ill-fitting but appropriate to the size and build of those who wear them. (From para. 1 of Chap. 55 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

Contentment with what is reasonably available, and yet also appropriate to size and build. It seems to me that Benedict counsels against a preoccupation with clothing and the false identity that can come with it. But against the false identity he also counsels for clothing that recognizes the dignity of the True Self in every size of person.

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