Reading 12 (Refectory)

In the refectory no one may partake of [anything] but the communal meal. When someone cannot eat from one platter on account of his sickness, if there are resources available, let a change be made, so that he receives eggs instead of cheese, and pork in place of beef, and let it be done in this manner in similar cases but without regard for the person. When something is sent to someone, he can share it there next to his place to the right and to the left. No one is permitted to take anything out of or into the refectory, except the abbot and the prior or the subprior or the weekly priest if the superiors are absent, and if anyone of the aforesaid does this, let him tell the almoner. If one sees somebody is lacking something that is necessary, let him signal the servant. Whenever something is served from a dish, he who is being served ought to bow slightly. No one shall exchange a cup offered to him. The brothers ought to be careful not to throw nutshells or eggshells in the refectory.

No one shall exit the refectory without permission. If anyone wishes to leave without intending to return, he shall go before the person who is in charge of the Ordo and after he has received permission, he shall return to his place and, bowing, say the verse of thanks, if he has eaten. Having finished the Gratias Agimus ²⁶, he shall exit upon finishing his thanksgiving. No one shall eat outside the refectory, unless he has received permission beforehand from him who is in charge of the convent, nor wait after the convent without permission with the exception of the obedentiaries. If, however, some have eaten in the chamber of the lord abbot or elsewhere with his permission, they should nevertheless inform the person who is in charge of the convent of this. But the obedentiaries who can wait after the convent without permission, may eat without permission in the abbot's chamber with him and not elsewhere. If necessity compels one of the brothers to go out before he has finished his meal, and if he cannot in due time return to the same meal, let him finish his meal afterwards with the servers.

Lectio duodecima.

Non debet aliquis in refectorio uti nisi communibus cibis. Quando aliquis pro infirmitate sua de uno ferculo non potest comedere, si adsit, facultas commutetur, ut pro caseis oua et pro carne uaccina, carnem porcinam accipiat, et sic de similibus quod tamen sine acceptione personarum fiat. Quando aliquid alicui mittitur, potest dare inde iuxta se ad dexteram et ad sinistram partem. Nulli licet aliquid mittere extra refectorium uel in refectorio, nisi abbati et priori uel suppriori, uel hebdomadario si maiores defuerint, quod siquis praedictorum fecerit, notum faciat elemosinario. Siquis uiderit deesse alicui quod necesse est, innuat seruitori. Quotiens de uno ferculo seruitur, debet ille cui seruitur, aliquantulum inclinare. Nullus commutet cyphum sibi oblatum. Cauere etiam debent fratres, ne ossa nucum uel ouorum testas per refectorium proiiciant.

Nullus de refectorio exeat sine licentia. Siquis non reuersurus exire uoluerit, eat ante eum qui ordinem tenet, et accepta licentia redeat ad locum suum, et dicat inclinans uersum gratiarum, si comederit. Finito Gratias agimus, exeat perficiendo gratias. Nullus extra refectorium comedat, nisi prius habita licentia ab eo qui conuentum tenet, nec secundum conuentum expectet sine licentia exceptis oboedienciariis. Si autem aliqui in camera domini abbatis uel alibi comederint de eius licentia, debent tamen illud notificare ei qui tenet conuentum. Oboedientiarii autem qui possunt secundum conuentum sine licentia expectare, in camera abbatis cum ipso et non alibi possunt sine licentia manducare. Si aliquem necessitas de fratribus comedentem exire coegerit nondum refectione sua expleta, et ad eandem refectionem competenter redire non poterit, post cum seruientibus refectionem suam expleat.