A bishop told the following story:
An excellent abbot presided over a Benedictine monastery. Thanks to the strict living regimen, the monastery enjoyed an exceptional reputation, and a number of other seminaries were under his supervision including a convent.
One day while the early mass had just ended there was a light knock on the gate, as though from a child’s hand. As the gatekeeper looked out, he saw a handsome young boy who appeared very pleasant. The boy said that he would very much like to see the monks and the abbot, and that he was told that they were kind to children.
The brother told the abbot about the boy’s wish, and he allowed the boy to enter. The boy made an equally good impression on the abbot and he asked the boy if he could read. He answered that he could not, but would very much like to learn. The abbot offered to let him stay for seven days, and if he had the necessary talent that they would let him stay.
The boy was then sent to school and proved to have such quick learning ability that it was a joy to teach him. After a few years, his knowledge was very advanced and as he was so wise and demur in manner the abbot and the monks believed it would be seen as a great advantage to allow him admittance to their order. He was very ready to do so, and so after a short time ordained as priest; many meant without saying so aloud that no one was better suited to be abbot than he was.
When the old abbot died, the young man was then unanimously voted to be his successor. But soon thereafter, it became clear that the customs in the monastery deteriorated badly. Not long after the installation of the new abbot, a number of the younger brothers became ill. When they showed a slight improvement the abbot ordered that, to gain their strength, they should eat meat and remain undisturbed in bed at night.
In spite of this they did not gain their strength. The abbot thought that this was because the monastery diet was not suited for them, so he ordered that the convalescing monks should spend some time in the convent where the nuns prepared the food more carefully and skillfully.
The ill brothers then moved to the convent and in fact soon regained their strength; but since rich foods warm the blood they soon felt bad desires that could corrupt the monks and nuns. The abbot was told that between the two groups, a very secretive relationship existed, but he remained deaf to the predictions.
In the meantime, the news of the deteriorating conditions at the monastery reached the holy church, and two trusted monks were dispatched to investigate the conditions. The visitors told the abbot about the ugly rumors that were circulating about the monastery, and ordered two of the oldest brothers to report the conditions. The brothers told what had come about truthfully.
After a long silence one of the visiting monks spoke: “I have traveled throughout the world,” he said, “and have experienced evil and good from monks, but I’ve never experienced that in such a short time a monastery that has sunk so deeply. If it were possible that the devil from hell himself had corrupted the customs, only then could such a change be explained.”
When the evil enemy, hidden in the form of the abbot, heard this he sank immediately into the floor. Then everyone praised God and confessed their sins. The old disciplines were restored and a god-fearing brother was promoted to abbot.