Regula, caput XX
Christ Arranges the Furnishings of Worship
Christ himself directs the proper number and assessment of altars, ornaments, and books needed for divine worship.
Christ himself here arranges and assesses the number of altars, ornaments, and books needed for celebrating the divine services in church and monastery.
The Furnishing of the Altars
Thirteen altars are prescribed, each with a chalice, and the high altar receives special abundance including two chalices, flasks, candelabras, a cross, censers, and a casket for Christ's Body.
You should also know that there will be thirteen altars, and each altar will be supplied with one chalice. The high altar, however, should have two chalices with two sets of flasks and two sets of candelabras, as well as one cross and three censers—one for ordinary days, but two for festivals—and one casket for my Body.
Treasure in Grace, Not Silver
The community is warned against amassing silver and gold, since true treasure is grace gained through devotion, prayer, and praise, though saints' relics may be fittingly adorned.
Furthermore, make absolutely sure to avoid holding many items of silver or gold as monastery property, since they won't heap up gold or silver or gems, but my grace, as treasure for themselves through constant devotion, devout prayers, and divine praise. It will also be permitted for the relics of the saints to be covered with gold or silver or gems, according to their measure, without any excess.
Books for the Office and for Study
Only as many books as necessary for the divine office are to be kept, but any book containing matter for learning or study is permitted.
Books, too—as many as are necessary for carrying out the divine office—are to be kept, but absolutely no more than that. They may have as many books as they wish, provided there is something to be learned or studied in them.
Vestments, Hangings, and the Limit of Possession
Each altar is to have two vestments and two hangings for festival and ordinary days, and no one may hold excessive personal possessions of any of the items described above.
Besides this, each altar will be furnished with two vestments and two hangings for festival and ordinary days. And beyond this, make sure they never hold too many of the items listed above together in personal possession.
Read the original Latin
Christus hic disponit et taxat numerum altarium et ornamentorum et librorum, que debent esse ad celebranda diuina offica in ecclesia et monasterio.
"Sciendum est eciam, quod tredecim erunt altaria et quodlibet altare vno contentabitur calice. Summum vero altare duos calices habeat cum duobus paribus ampullarum et duobus paribus candelabrorum, vnam quoque crucem et tria thuribula, quorum vnum habendum est singulis diebus, duo vero in festiuitatibus, et vnam pixidem pro corpore meo. Insuper omnino caueatur, ne plura de argento vel de auro in possessione habeantur monasterii, quoniam nec aurum nec argentum siue gemmas sed graciam meam continuis studiis, deuotis oracionibus et diuinis laudibus sibi coaceruabunt pro thesauro. Licebit eciam reliquias sanctorum auro vel argento seu gemmis secundum ipsarum mensuram sine omni superfluitate operiri. Libri quoque, quotquot necessarii fuerint ad diuinum officium peragendum, habendi sunt, plures autem nullo modo. Illos autem libros habeant, quotquot voluerint, in quibus addiscendum est vel studendum. Preterea vnumquodque altare duobus ornamentis et duobus paramentis propter dies festiuos et feriales contentetur. Plura quoque numquam in possessione propria insimul habeantur de omnibus rebus suprascriptis."
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