Reading 34: On how it is necessary to be present at the canonical hours

All the clerical brothers alike ought to be present in the choir at the canonical hours, except for those who have undergone bloodletting or who are not able to come to the church because of some infirmity. All others who are assigned to [certain] duties come to hours just as the rest, if they can [do this] appropriately. During the winter, the almoner, the cellarer, the refectorer, the lector of the table and the kitchener may stay behind from None or from Compline, if these are sung while they are dining. If, because of some pressing business, one needs to be away from the canonical hours more often [than once] and therefore it is troublesome to ask for permission that many times, he ought to indicate this to the abbot in private beforehand. And then the abbot, if he decides so, can excuse that person from those hours in chapter, and when excusing him, he ought to specify the hours by name. At the end of the canonical hour those who are assigned to certain duties may depart to their offices. All must perform their weekly service at Mass, except the steward and the abbot who are not required to perform any weekly office. The brothers must not go outside the gate without permission, in the summer after the convent's dinner, and in winter after Vespers, unless for a compelling and inescapable reason. The rest of the time the steward and the kitchener may go out on account of their business.

QVOMODO HORIS REGVLARIBVS SIT NECESSARIO ASSISTENDVM : lectio 34.

Regularibus horis omnes pariter fratres clerici in choro interesse debent, exceptis illis qui uel minuti sunt, uel propter aliquam infirmitatem ad ecclesiam uenire non possunt. Ceteri omnes qui officiis deputati sunt, sicut alii ueniunt ad horas, si commode possunt. Elemosinarius et cellarius, et refectorarius, et lector mensae et coquinarius ab hora nona uel a completorio in hyeme possunt remanere, si cantatur dum comedunt. Si propter aliquam necessariam occupationem aliquis regularibus horis frequentius abesse necesse habuerit, atque ideo totiens molestum sit licentiam quaerere, hoc abbati secreto prius debet indicare. Et tunc abbas, si ei uisum fuerit, ab eisdem horis in capitulo potest ipsum absoluere, et a quibus, cum absoluat, nominatim debet determinare. Hii qui officiis deputati sunt, finita regulari hora, ad officia sua exire possunt. Omnes septimanas ad missam facere debent, excepto praeposito et abbate, qui nullam septimanam facere tenentur. Extra portam non debent exire in aestate post coenam conuentus, et in hyeme post uesperas sine licentia nisi causa cogente ineuitabili. In alio tempore praepositus et coquinarius pro negotiis suis possunt exire.