The word satisfaction and its use in Chapter 44 of the Rule of Benedict caught my attention today. I am familiar with the word meaning something similar to complete or full yet I had never really stopped and considered it in the context of reparation and amendment. Dictionary.com (an online English dictionary) has the following as two of the definitions for satisfaction: an act of doing penance or making reparation for venial sin; the penance or reparation made. This is an older, ecclesial meaning for satisfaction.
This reparation may be similar to the act of bringing things back into order or to a state of completeness. When a fault is committed or there is a disturbance the harmony and balance of things is thrown off. It is through the act of penance and humble admission of wrong doing that everything can be restored to its original harmony. Everything can return to a state similar to the original. That is the main point of Chapter 44--setting everything back in place.
What am I doing to maintain the balance in community?
Sr. Catherine, OSB
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