An Abbess who is worthy to be over a monastery should always remember what she is called, and live up to the name of Superior. For she is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery, being called by a name of His, which is taken from the words of the Apostle: "You have received a Spirit of adoption ..., by virtue of which we cry, 'Abba -- Father'" (Rom. 8:15)!Therefore the Abbess ought not to teach or ordain or command anything which is against the Lord's precepts; on the contrary, her commands and her teaching should be a leaven of divine justice kneaded into the minds of her disciples.

Too often we choose the expedient way. There is a task to be done, we seek to complete it quickly... sometimes thoughtlessly.

Quite often the task is a step on journey. How does the task advance us toward our end?

To eat can be a quick and tasteless sustaining of the body; or it can be a sacrament of sense and conversation.

To respond to another can be an annoying interruption; or it can be a sacrament of love and service.

All the leader does should infuse the dough of daily life with the yeast of sacred potential.

Above St. Benedict delivers his Rule to the monks of his order.