Rule of St. Benedict - Chapter 3

"As often as anything important is to be done in the monastery, the abbot shall call the whole community together and explain themselves what the business is; and after hearing the advice of the monks, let them ponder it and follow what they judge to be the wiser course. The reason why we have said all should be called for counsel is that the Lord often reveals what is better to the younger. The monks, for their part, are to express their opinions with all humility, and not presume to defend their own views obstinately. The decision is rather the abbots to make, so that when they have determined what is more prudent, all must obey. Nevertheless, just as it is proper for disciples to obey their master, so it is becoming for the master on their part to settle everything with foresight and fairness."

In Chapter 3, St. Benedict teaches that the abbot should call the whole community together to seek counsel, even from the youngest, because “the Lord often reveals what is better to the younger.” In a modern Christian or oblate context, this becomes an invitation to humility and listening. Rather than assuming authority means having all the answers, Benedict reminds us that wisdom often appears in unexpected voices—the quiet person, the newcomer, the one who seems insignificant. For oblates, this chapter encourages a spirit of discernment: to ask advice, to listen deeply, and to recognize that the Holy Spirit speaks through community, not just through our own thoughts. Benedict’s teaching becomes a gentle warning against spiritual self-reliance and a reminder that seeking counsel is not weakness but strength, because it opens space for God to guide us through others.