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Chapter 14InclA.1.14

Caput XIII. De tempore loquendi et tacendi.

The Rule of Speech and Silence

The recluse is instructed to discern fitting times for speaking and for silence.

Let us now distinguish the time for speaking and the time for silence.

Silence After Compline

From the Exaltation of the Holy Cross until Lent, the recluse is to keep silence after Compline until dawn, speaking only briefly about daily necessities.

Therefore, from the Exaltation of the Holy Cross until Lent, after Compline until dawn let her keep silence; and then, if she wishes to suggest something further to the servant about a daily necessity, let her do so in a few words first, and let her not speak to anyone afterward until Terce.12

The Hours for Necessary Conversation

Between Terce and None, the recluse may respond to visitors and direct the ministers as needed.

But between Terce and None, let her respond appropriately to those who have come — first, if they are to be admitted — and let her enjoin upon the ministers whatever she sees fit.34

Warning Against Laxity After Eating

After None and the midday meal, the recluse must shun all conversation and any occasion of laxity, lest the downfall of Exodus 32:6 befall her.

After None, once she has taken food, let her beware of all conversation and any occasion of laxity, lest that befall her which is written: 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play' (Exod.✦56 XXXII, 6).✦

Evening Conference and the Lenten Fast of Speech

After Vespers the recluse may confer with the minister until collation; during Lent she is to keep near-total silence, speaking only rarely with her confessor and the minister.

Furthermore, when Vespers is dismissed, let her confer with the minister about necessary matters until the time of the collation.78 During Lent, the recluse ought always to keep silence; but since this is thought to be harsh and impossible, let her speak more rarely than at other times with her confessor and the minister, and with no one else — unless perhaps some venerable person should arrive from other provinces.9

Speech After Easter and the Day's Close

After Easter, the recluse may speak with her ministers after the first Hour and with visitors between None and Vespers; after the evening hour she arranges needed work with the sisters until collation.

After Easter, however, up to the aforementioned time — with silence kept from Compline until sunrise — when she has celebrated the first Hour in the daily offices, let her speak with her ministers if necessary; and with those who come, between None and Vespers.101112 Once the evening hour is over, let her arrange with the sisters whatever work is needed until the collation.

Read the original Latin

Jam nunc tempus loquendi, ac tacendi tempus distinguamus. Igitur ab Exaltatione sanctae Crucis usque ad Quadragesimam, post completorium usque ad auroram silentium teneat: et tunc dicta prima, si aliud de diurna necessitate voluerit suggerere servienti, paucis hoc faciat verbis; nihil cuiquam postea usque ad tertiam loquatur. Inter tertiam vero et nonam, his qui supervenerint, prius si admittendi sunt, competenter respondeat, et ministris, quod placuerit, injungat. Post nonam sumpto cibo omne colloquium et dissolutionis materiam caveat, ne impingatur ei illud, quod scriptum est: Sedit populus manducare et bibere, et surrexerunt ludere (Exod. XXXII, 6). Porro vespertina laude soluta, cum ministra usque ad tempus collationis de necessariis conferat. Tempore vero Quadragesimae inclusa semper silentium tenere deberet: sed quia hoc durum impossibileque putatur, cum confessore suo et ministra, rarius quam aliis temporibus, loquatur; et cum nullo alio, nisi forte aliqua reverenda persona ex aliis provinciis supervenerit. Post Pascha vero usque ad tempus praedictum, a completorio usque ad solis ortum silentio custodito, cum horam primam in diurnis obsequiis celebraverit, cum ministris suis loquatur si oportuerit; cum supervenientibus, inter nonam et vesperam.

Finita hora vesperarum, disponat cum ministris quod opus fuerit usque ad collationem.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Exod.32.6 — And they rose early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to celebrate.
  2. ↩Exod.32.6 — And they rose early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to celebrate.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩dicta prima: rendered as 'something further … in a few words first' to capture the sense of initial/brief mention before the silence resumes.
  2. 2 ↩voluerit: ambiguous between future indicative and perfect subjunctive; rendered as 'if she wishes' to cover both readings.
  3. 3 ↩supervenerint: number ambiguous (sg/pl); rendered as plural 'have come' as most likely reading.
  4. 4 ↩placuerit: ambiguous between future and perfect subjunctive; rendered as 'she sees fit' to cover both.
  5. 5 ↩impingatur: exact nuance uncertain; rendered as 'befall' to capture the sense of something unwelcome falling upon her.
  6. 6 ↩dissolutionis materiam: rendered as 'occasion of laxity' — metaphorical sense of material/opportunity for spiritual slackness.
  7. 7 ↩soluta: rendered as 'dismissed' — ablative absolute with vespertina laude, indicating the conclusion of the office.
  8. 8 ↩ministra: case ambiguous (nom/abl); rendered as ablative of accompaniment with 'with the minister.'
  9. 9 ↩supervenerit: ambiguous between future and perfect subjunctive; rendered as 'should arrive' to cover both.
  10. 10 ↩celebraverit: ambiguous between future and perfect subjunctive; rendered as 'when she has celebrated' to cover both.
  11. 11 ↩oportuerit: ambiguous between future and perfect subjunctive; rendered as 'if necessary' to cover both.
  12. 12 ↩custodito: syntax uncertain (ablative absolute or passive participle agreeing with silentio); rendered as 'with silence kept' to convey the ablative absolute sense.

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