The source and foundation of authority in a Benedictine community is the Spirit. Thus
Benedict could instruct those who had first received the gift of the Spirit at baptism, that
"obedience a blessing to be shown by all, not only to the abbot, but also to one another
since we know it is by this way of obedience that we go to God" (RB 71:1). Benedictine
authority is expressed cenobitically because the Spirit of Wisdom abides among those who live in
a monastic community under the Rule of Benedict and a prioress. The wisdom of the Rule
establishes that the authority of a Benedictine community is present in the community itself;it is
expressed and exercised principally through the prioress (RB: 3).Accordingly, community
members as well as the prioress share in the ministry of authority, each in her own
way.
The prioress maintains, preserves, and interprets the Benedictine charism in the monastery which
elects her. In accomplishing this, the most important and fundamental service of the prioress is to
unite the community members through Christ in his Spirit. She achieves this through dialogue
with them in a spirit of co-responsibility and through the two-fold manner of teaching by word
and deed (RB 2:11-15). Since the principle of co-responsibility
is rooted in the Rule of Benedict, the prioress does not make arbitrary decisions. She respects the
Divine Wisdom which brings her and her Benedictine sisters together by consulting them
regularly, sharing with them as much as possible her decision-making responsibilities. Having
received the advice of her sisters, she must finally judge what the Spirit is saying to the
community (RB 3:1-6). By acting in this way, she provides for the spiritual well-being of her
community.
As a member of the Monastic Chapter, each Benedictine sister for her part shares, according to
these Constitutions, in the authority and responsibility of the community because she has received
and accepted the Spirit's gift of the monastic charism. Cenobitic authority reaches its fullest
potential when each sister assumes her responsibility to be attentive to the Spirit and shares with
the prioress and community any insight she has as they deliberate together concerning matters of
importance to the community (RB 3:3).
The prioress provides for both the spiritual and temporal well-being of the community in
collaboration with the sisters. The Rule of Benedict directs that the prioress assemble the
Monastic Chapter to seek the wisdom of the entire community concerning anything of
importance, and also that she consult with a designated Council in the conduct of the community's
ordinary affairs(RB 3:12). Because this call to dialogue is a demand of love, the prioress has the
responsibility of fostering an environment which inspires a
free, creative response by the members. In Benedict's great wisdom, he recognized that an open
and listening attitude of the spiritual leader is a key to successful dialogue (RB: 64).
Although the Rule of Benedict specifically entrusts the prioress with the responsibility for making
final decisions, Benedict expects the members of the community to share their wisdom with her so
that she may reach a wise judgment and not regret afterwards anything that she has done (RB
3:13). A basic reason for exercising the cenobitic authority present in the community is to give
recognition to the ecclesial nature of the monastic community where all the cenobitic women are
united in Christ around the prioress and are free to bear witness to the gifts of the Spirit through
the monastic
charism.
The prioress is called to meditate Christ's presence in the community by a personal fidelity to the
Word of God and to the tradition of the Benedictine way of life (RB 2:1-3, 30). She must also
share her insights into the Word of God and guide the monastic community to live the Rule
authentically today (RB 64:9). She must elicit the assistance of community members in this task
and gently encourage each sister to share freely in the Spirit the wisdom she has gained through
her own experience. The faith life of the community will be continually built up by this sharing of
the Word of God.
Benedict recognized the need for a ministry of healing and recognition in a monastic community.
His Rule directs the prioress to correct with gentleness and an awareness of her own weakness
(RB 64:11-15). It further directs her to allow the monastic to fulfill her responsibility for
administering the healing Word of God to one another so that an erring or broken sister not
"be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow " (RB 27:3).
The prioress also seeks to maintain the necessary organizational structures of the monastery (RB
21:1-4; 65:11-17) and to honor the counsel of the Monastic Chapter. She coordinates the
activities related to these tasks and delegates the necessary authority to those who assist her. The
prioress makes possible a well-balanced life for the community, calls forth leadership and enables
talents to be used in the service of the community, and provides for the needs of the community
through an orderly administration.
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© Federation of St. Scholatica, 1997