If anyone was too late to enter a worship service in the procession with the others, he would have to come in alone and stretch himself out on the floor in the middle of the choir, as a sign of apology for being late. When the sub-prior gave a signal, the latecomer was allowed to rise and go to his place.
The Chapter meeting was the council that decided all the important matters for the community, including appointing monks for various duties, business decisions, making announcements, and disciplining any monks who had broken the rule of St. Benedict (if such an occasion arose).
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