Choosing Truth and Charity

At first this chapter can sound harsh. Surely defending someone is a good thing. But Benedict is concerned about factions—people forming little alliances, defending friends regardless of whether they are right, and allowing personal loyalties to disrupt the peace of the community.

This is surprisingly relevant today. We are constantly encouraged to choose sides. Benedict asks us to choose truth and charity instead. Loving someone does not require defending everything they do. Sometimes the most loving thing is to refuse to participate in their anger, excuse their behavior, or join their quarrel. Peace requires something more difficult than taking sides: it requires humility.