49. The Observance of Lent

Although the life of a monk ought to have at all times the mark of Lenten observance, ² few have the strength for this. Therefore, we exhort all alike during these days of Lent to guard their lives by all that is pure ³ and to wash away during these holy days the careless acts of other times. ⁴ This, then, is done worthily if we refrain from every vice, and give ourselves to prayer with tears, to lectio, and to compunction of heart, and also to abstinence.

⁵ Therefore, during these days, let us for our own sake add something to our ordinary measure of service, such as private prayers or abstinence from food and drink, ⁶ so that each of us, of our own free will, may offer to God “with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thes 1:6) something over and above our appointed service. ⁷ That is, let us deprive our body of food, drink, sleep, much talk, and foolishness. Then with the joy of spiritual longing, let us look forward to Holy Easter. ⁸ Let each one, however, lay before his abbot what he would offer up, and let it be done with the abbot’s prayer and approval, ⁹ for what is done without the permission of the spiritual father will be reckoned as presumption and vainglory, and not as merit. ¹⁰ Therefore, all things are to be done with his approval.