Letting Go of the Urge to Punish

Benedict insists that discipline belongs to proper authority and not to personal anger. No brother is permitted to take punishment into his own hands. There is wisdom here far beyond the monastery. When we appoint ourselves judge, jury, and executioner, even in small ways, anger quickly begins masquerading as justice.

We may not strike people physically, but we can certainly strike with words, silence, sarcasm, gossip, or humiliation. Those blows can leave wounds too. Benedict asks us to surrender the desire to punish people simply because they have irritated or offended us. Correction may sometimes be necessary, but vengeance never is.