Benedict wants a community where people can express individuality rather than individualism. Individualism is simply doing your own thing in your own way and blanking out other people. Individuality involves bringing your particular contribution to bear on the life of the community, even if that is a difficult contribution for others to accept; for example, a criticism. This “good speaking,” as we might call it, is encouraged in Benedict’s chapter “On Summoning the Brothers for Counsel,” in which he also says, “The reason why we have said all should be called for counsel is that the Lord often reveals what is better to the younger.” Everybody, even the youngest, must be encouraged to contribute.
Abbot Christopher Jamison
Finding Sanctuary, p. 121
