Caput VIII. Quibuscum personis loqui decet reclusam.
The Blessed Recluse
The author identifies who may be spoken to and praises the woman who admits no husband, preserving bodily chastity free from scandal.
Now then, let's identify the people to whom she ought to speak. Happy is the woman who has admitted no husband, wishing neither to see any man nor to speak with one. But what example from among recluses now follows this? The things that are present are enough for them, if they preserve this bodily chastity, if they are not drawn out by a heavy belly, if no shameful weeping has brought forth a birth.
With Whom She May Properly Speak
Since perpetual silence with all is impossible, the recluse may properly speak with an elderly priest for confession, counsel, and consolation.
For those people with whom they must not speak at all, we can't impose perpetual silence — so let's consider those with whom they may more properly speak. Therefore, if it can be done, let provision be made in a large monastery or church for some elderly priest, mature in character, to whom she speaks only rarely and only about confession and the soul's edification, and from whom she may receive counsel in doubtful matters and consolation in times of trial.
Guarding the Body and Its Appearance
To prevent sexual temptation, no one should touch the recluse, and she herself should be indifferent to her bodily appearance.
But because that evil we generally fear stirs up the limbs of the recluse and softens the deadened frailty of old age, let no one offer his own hand to be touched or handled by her. Let it be no concern of yours — not the gauntness of a face, not the thinness of arms, not the roughness of skin.
Read the original Latin
Jam nunc personas quibus loqui debet, designemus. Felix illa quae nec maritum admisit, nullum virorum videre volens, nec alloqui. Sed quae nunc reclusarum hoc sequitur exemplum? Sufficiunt illis quae modo sunt, si hanc corporalem castitatem conservent, si non onusto ventre non extrahantur, si non fletus infamis partum ediderit. Quibus perpetuum, ne cum viris loquantur, indicere non possumus silentium, cum quibus honestius loqui possint, videamus. Ergo si fieri potest, provideatur in magno monasterio vel ecclesia presbyter aliquis senex, maturus moribus, cui raro, nisi de confessione et animae aedificatione loquatur, a quo consilium accipiat in dubiis, in tribulationibus consolationem. Verum quia inclusum membris malum illud, quod timemus, plerumque suscitat, et emollit emortuam senectutem, nec ipsi manum suam tangendam praebeat vel palpandam. Nulla vobis de macie vultus, de exilitate brachiorum, de cutis asperitate sit cura.
De institutione inclusarum (A Rule of Life for a Recluse) companion
A rule only lives if you keep it daily
Chosen Portion gives your new rule its anchor: one free devotional portion every day.
Aelred built his sister's day around fixed times of prayer and meditation; Chosen Portion supplies the fixed daily portion that makes a modern rule of life keepable.
- Anchor your rule with a fixed 10-minute daily portion
- Practice Aelred's threefold meditation with guided daily prompts
- Review and adjust your one-page rule after 30 days of tracked practice