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Rule

St Benedict of Nursia, tr. Hunter Blair, 1907

Chapter 54

BY no means let a monk be allowed to receive, either from his parents or any one else, or from his brethren, letters, tokens,¹ or any gifts whatsoever, or to give them to others, without permission of the Abbot. And if anything be sent to him, even by his parents, let him not presume to receive it until it hath been made known to the Abbot. But even if the Abbot order it to be received, it shall be in his power to bid it be given to whom he pleaseth; and let not the brother to whom it may have been sent be grieved, lest occasion be given to the devil. Should any one, however, presume to act otherwise, let him be subjected to the discipline of the Rule.

Notes

Note U (p. 144).—Eulogias. Benedictiones. This word is used by ancient writers, both in its Greek and Latin form, in the sense of gifts or presents. Thus in 1 Kings xxv. 27, Abigail, referring to the presents she is offering to David, says: “Wherefore, receive this blessing (benedictionem: in LXX. version εὐλόγιαν) which thy handmaid hath brought to thee.” The word, as used here by St. Benedict, may bear the same meaning; but it is generally understood in the stricter ecclesiastical sense of the bread or small cakes which were blessed during Mass, and given to the faithful in token of their being in full communion with the Church. The Eulogia is still given in parts of France, and also in the Greek Church, where it is known by the name of ἀντίδωρον, as being a kind of substitute for Holy Communion. It was a monastic custom of the highest antiquity that these eulogiæ, or blest cakes, should be distributed to the brethren in the refectory, before beginning their meal. The Capitula Monachorum Augiensium (circ. 813 A.D.) prescribe as follows: “In refectorio, data benedictione, veniant duo presbyteri ad Abbatem, et dant ipsi eulogium cæteris fratribus.” So in the Capitulare Aquisgranense (A.D. 816), cap. lxvii. “Ut eulogiæ Fratribus a presbyteris in refectorio dentur.” Cf. Regula Magistri, c. 76.
The object of the prohibition laid down by St. Benedict is of course to discourage particular friendships, or marks of individual affection, as opposed to the spirit of community life.