Letter 7 of Saint-Cyran

If there are two opinions in a religious community about the use of a sum of money, it is necessary to consult the will of God about which is the best. He has ordered us to communicate our divergences to those who lead his community in order not to do anything except what is in agreement with his church. The fathers of the church as well as the priests in holy scripture make this clear. It would be a fault to try to resolve the difficulty by yourselves. You are fortunate usually to have leaders who love your community more than themselves. You should join with them in your deliberations and not hide from them any secrets about either your temporal or spiritual life. They should take the time to consult with God with whom it is necessary that everything end up to be made clear and those in a community who have priestly qualities are  best able to make religious clarifications.  In fact, it is best for any business to have the advice of men of God and since you have men who are completely unselfish and overflowing with God’s love, you are obligated to follow their decision.

It was by following the rules of such men that the first Christians reached a high level of holiness and we have only to consider them and imitate them to become good Christians. Religious communities flourish when joined to holy leaders. We should not learn any of the truths of the tradition of Jesus Christ only to reduce them when applying them to practical matters. If the priestly tradition appears so strong in David and among other Jews, it should appear even stronger among the Christians and the souls who are called to the state more than just perfect of the new law. Religious communities are shortened versions of God’s church itself where nothing happens except in common before God.
Translated from the French by Daniel McNeill.

The United States of the World, The End of All Beginnings, The Theater of the Impossible, books by Daniel McNeill, are for sale at:
amazon.com/author/graceisall