Disciplinary Rubrics and Excommunication

THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER

THE DISCIPLINARY RUBRICS

If the priest knows that a person who is living a notorious evil life intends to come to Communion, the priest shall speak to that person privately, and tell him that he may not come to the Holy Table until he has given clear proof of repentance and amendment of life.

The priest shall follow the same procedure with those who have done wrong to their neighbors and are a scandal to the other members of the congregation, not allowing such persons to receive Communion until they have made restitution for the wrong they have done, or have at least promised to do so.

When the priest sees that there is hatred between membes of the congregation, he shall speak privately to each of them, telling them that they may not receive Communion until they have forgiven each other.  And if the person or persons on one side truly forgive the others and desire and promise to make up for their faults, but those on the other side refuse to forgive, the priest shall allow tose who are penitent to come to Communion, but not htose who are stubborn.

In all such cases, the priest is required to notify the bishop, within 14 days at the most, giving the reasons for refusing Communion. 

THE RULE OF SAINT BENEDICT  (RB)

CHAPTER XXIII EXCOMMUNICATION FOR FAULTS

If any brotehr is found to be contumacious or disobedient or arrogant or a grumbler or one who sets himself up against some point of the Holy Rule or despies the ordinances of his seniors, he is to be warned privately once or twice, according to our Lord's command by his superiors.  If he does not amend his ways, then he should be publically rebuked before all.  If he still does not improve let him undergo excommunication, if he understands the nature of his punishment.  If, however, he is stubborn, he must undergo corporate punishment.  

Matthew 18:15-16

CHAPTER XXIV HOW EXCOMMUNICATION IS TO BE REGULATED

Excommunication or disciplinary measures should be proportionate to the nature of the fault, and the nature of the fault is for the Abbot to judge.  If then a brother is found to commit less serious faults he is to be deprived of sharing in the common meal.  The rules for one who is thus excluded from the sharing in the common meal will be: he may not intone antiphon or Psalm in oratory; nor may he read a lesson until he has made satisfaction.  He must eat alone after the meal of the brethren.  Thus if they eat at the sixth hour, he will eat in the evening; until having made adequate satisfaction he receives pardon.

CHAPTER XXV  VERY SERIOUS FAULTS

The brother who is guilty of a very serious fault is to be suspended from sharing in the meals and also form the oratory. None of the brethren may associate with him in companionship or conversation.  He is to be left alone at the work assigned to him and to remain in penitent grief as he reflects on the terrible sentence of the the Apostle.  'This kind of man is handed over to bodily death, so that his spirit may be saved for the day of the Lord. (I Cor. 5:5)'  His food he should take alone in such measure and at such time as the Abbot things most suitable for him; nor may he or the food that is give him receive a blessing from anyone who passes by.

CHAPTER XXVI UNAUTHORIZED ASSOCATION WITH THE EXCOMMUNICATED

If any brother, acting without instruction from the Abbot, takes it upon himself to associate with an excommunicated brother in any way, or to talk with him, or send him a message, he must likewise undergo the punishment of excommunication.

CHAPTER XXVII  THE CONCERN THE ABBOT MUST HAVE FOR THE EXCOMMUNICATED

The Abbot should carry out with the deepest concern his responsibility for the brethren who fall into sin, 'for it is not those who are in good health who need a doctor, but those who are sick.' (Matthew 9:12)  For this reason he should, like a skillful doctor, use every possible remedy; for example he may send senpectae (that is, mature and wise brethren) to give unofficial consolation to their wavering brother, and induce him to make humble satisfaction, and give him comfort, 'so that he is not overcome by too much sadness.' (II Co 2:7)  And so let it be as the Apostle also says, 'that love is reaffirmed toward him'; (ibid:8) and everybody is to preay for him.

It is indeed very important that the Abbot should show his concern, and make speed to employ his skill and energy, lest he lose one of the sheep entrusted to him.  For he must bear in mind that it is the care of the sick souls that he has undertaken, not a despotic rule over healthy ones.  Moreover, he shuld fear the threats of the prophet, through whose words God says, 'What you saw to be fat you took, and what was weak you threw away.' (Ezek 34:3,4)  And let him copy the loving example of the Good Shepherd who left the ninety-nine sheep on the mountains, and went away to search for the one that had gone astray; and had such pit for its weakness that he deigned to lay it on his own sacred shoulders, and so carry it back to the flock. (Luke 15:4,5)

CHAPTER XXVIII  THE INCORIGIBLE

If any brother who has been often corrected for some fault, and even been excommunicated, does not amend his way, he must receive harsher punishment, that is to say, he must suffer a beating.  But, if, even after this, he does not amend or if - which God forbid - he is so filled with pride as to want to defend his actions, then the Abbot must ack like a wise doctor.  If he has made use of poultices, of the oinments of his counsels of the remediens of Divine Scriptures, if he has come at last to the cautery of excommunication, and the blows of the rod, and if he now sees that his work is unavailing - let him make use of what is still greater: his own prayer combidned with that of all the brethren that the Lord to whom nothing is impossible may work the salvation of the sick brother.

But if even by this means he is not cured then the Abbot must empoly the surgeon's knife, as the Apostle says, 'Drive out the wicked man from among you.' (Co 5:13)  And again, If the unfaithful one leaves you let him go for fear that one diseased sheep may infect the whole flock.' (1 Co 7:15) 

CHAPTER XXIV  WHETHER BRETHREN WHO LEAVE SHOULD BE TAKEN BACK

If a brother has through is own wrong choice left the monastery and wants to come back again, he must first promise to make amendment for having left and then let him be taken back in the lowest place as a test of his humility.  If he goes away a second time, he may be received back, and even a third time; but after that he must realise that the path of return will not be granted him again.  

CHAPTER XLIV  HOW THE EXCOMMUNICATED ARE TO MAKE SATISFACTION

If, for serious faults, anyone is excommunicated from the oratory and from the common meals, he is to lie prostrate at the threshold of the oratory at the time when the Work of God is being carried out, saying nothing, but just lying there with his head to the ground at the feet of them all as they come out of the oratory.  This he is to continue to do until the Abbot considers the satisfaction to be enough.  When at the Abbot's bidding he comes in, he must cast himself at the feet of the Abbot and then at the feet of the others, that they may pray for him.  Then following the Abbot's instructions he may be admitted into choir, in such position as the Abbot decides, but on condition that he does not presume to sing alone any Psalm or reading or anything else, until the Abbot give a fresh order.  Moreover, at every hour, when the Work of God is being finished, he is to cast himself on the ground in the place whre he is standing.  And so must continue to do penance, until the Abbot again orders him to stop making this satisfaciton.

With regad to those who for less serious faults are excommunicated from meals only, they are to make satisfaciton in the oratory until the Abbot orders them to stop.  They perform this penance until the Abbot give his blessing and says, That is enough.

CHAPTER XLV  THOSE WHO MAKE MISTAKES IN THE ORATORY

If anyone goes wrong in giving out a Psalm, responsory, antiphon, or reading, unless by making satisfaction he humbles himself there before all, he must submit to greater punishment; for he refuses to put right with humility what he did wrong through lack of care. 

CHAPTER XLVI  THOSE WHO COMMIT FAULTS IN OTHER MATTERS

If anyone while engaged in his work, in the kitchen, in the cellarer's offices, in the storeroom, in the bakery, in the garden, or while engaged in any craft, or indeed anywhere else, behaves badly, or beaks some article or destroys it, or commits some excess, he should come straightway before the Abbot and the community, declare his transgression and make satisfaction.  But if he does not do this, and the transgression becomes known thorugh another, he must undergo a heavier penalty.

However, if the failing be an interior sin, he should declare it only to the Abbot or to spiritual fathers, for they, knowing how to heal their own wounds, know how to heal those of others, without revealing them or making them known.