Reading Eleven (Sext, Refectory)
After these things, Sext (the sixth hour) shall be struck. After it has been struck, the weekly priest shall begin, and before the end of the hour, the prior, coming in front, shall strike the cymbal for the first time. When the hour has ended, the convent shall go in procession to the lavabo. It should be known that on double feast days, when there is no interval between mass and the hour, the striking of the cymbal ought to take place after the end [of the Mass] and after the brothers have relieved their necessities, the prior, coming in front, shall strike the cymbal and thus the brothers shall come in order. All the brothers ought to be gathered for each meal, except the provost if he is detained by some business, and except the cellarer, the kitchener and the sacristan who from time to time cannot come at the proper time on account of making secure the doors of the church, and when he cannot be present for the blessing, let him come as quickly as possible in front of his own seat and bowing there to the Majestas , he shall say the verse of the Kyrie Eleison and the Pater Noster and thus he shall go to eat. All others who come after the benediction shall do the same, and no one shall pass by a brother from his row.
When the cymbal is struck and the hour has ended, if the [brothers] are in the church or in the cloister they shall come to the lavabo through the eastern part of the cloister and wash there in the same order as in the morning and they shall station themselves before the refectory on both sides of the cloister. He who holds the convent must beware, lest by making somewhere a long delay he makes them wait. After everyone has washed, when the prior has struck the cymbal one blow, they shall enter the refectory in order, so that no one would presume to run forward and disturb the order, but each chorus shall divide itself on both sides along their tables, each [brother] in front of his own seat. Then they shall bow to the Majestas , and afterwards, if the abbot should pass, rising up they shall bow to him. Then the prior or the abbot, if he is present, approaching the bell shall strike it. When it has been struck, all shall begin Benedicte in a moderate voice, and everyone shall sing the verse with the same voice; at Gloria Patri they shall bow and at Pater Noster . When Pater Noster has been said, the priest shall rise (from his bowing) and make the benediction, turning himself first to the high table and then to the others.
After this, the lector shall say Jube Domne in front of the steps in the middle of the refectory, and the abbot shall give benediction, or the prior if the abbot is not there, or the subprior in the absence of the prior, or the weekly priest in their absence. When the benediction has been given, the [brothers] shall singly take their seats with reverence and without hurrying or noise. When the benediction has been finished, the lector ascending to the pulpit shall begin immediately, and he shall read clearly and distinctly so that he can be understood and heard by all. Let the brothers sitting at the tables have their ears intent upon the reading as is expressly contained in the rule. Similarly, let him who is serving, when he has nothing to do, sit and listen to the reading with the rest. And everyone should avoid making noise as much as they can, so that the hearing of the reading may not be impeded, except for the serving [of the meal] which cannot be done without noise.