Chapter 35: On the Weekly Servers in the Kitchen


Mar. 13 - July 13 - Nov. 12

Let the brethren serve one another,
And let no one be excused from the kitchen service
Except by reason of sickness
Or occupation in some important work.
For this service brings increase of reward and of charity.
But let helpers be provided for the weak ones,
That they may not be distressed by this work;
And indeed let everyone have help,
As required by the size of the community
Or the circumstances of the locality.
If the community is a large one,
The cellarer shall be excused from the kitchen service;
And so also those whose occupations are of greater utility,
As we said above.
Let the rest serve one another in charity.
The one who is ending his week of service
Shall do the cleaning on Saturday.
He shall wash the towels
With which the brethren wipe their hands and feet;
And this server who is ending his week,
Aided by the one who is about to begin,
Shall wash the feet of all the brethren.
He shall return the utensils of his office to the cellarer
Clean and in good condition,
And the cellarer in turn shall consign them to the incoming server,
In order that he may know
What he gives out and what he receives back.
Mar. 14 - July 14 - Nov. 13


An hour before the meal
Let the weekly servers each receive a drink and some bread
Over and above the appointed allowance,
In order that at the meal time they may serve their brethren
Without murmuring and without excessive fatigue.
On solemn days, however, let them wait until after Mass.
Immediately after the Morning Office on Sunday,
The incoming and outgoing servers
Shall prostrate themselves before all the brethren in the oratory
And ask their prayers.
Let the server who is ending his week say this verse:
"Blessed are You, O Lord God,
Who have helped me and consoled me."
When this has been said three times
And the outgoing server has received his blessing,
Then let the incoming server follow and say,
"Incline unto my aid, O God;
O Lord, make haste to help me."
Let this also be repeated three times by all,
And having received his blessing
Let him enter his service.