The brethren should conduct themselves toward one another with the greatest love, whether in praying, reading Scripture, or doing any kind of work, so that they may have the foundation of charity toward others. For why else is it written: “Thy will be done also on earth as in heaven” (Mt 6:10)? It is in order that, as the angels in heaven live together in accord with each other in the greatest unanimity, in peace and love, and there is no pride or envy there but they communicate in mutual love and sincerity, so in the same way the brethren should be among themselves. In the case where some thirty live together, they cannot continue at one thing the whole day and night. But some of them devote themselves to prayer for six hours and then they wish to read. Others readily and kindly serve the others, while still others do their own work.
The brethren, therefore, regardless of what work they are doing, ought to conduct themselves toward each other in love and cheerfulness. And the one who works should say of him who is praying: “I also possess the treasure which my brother possesses since it is common.” And let him who prays say of him who reads: “What he gains from reading redounds also to my advantage.” And he who works let him thus say: “The work which I am doing is for the common good.” For as the members of the body, being many, are one body (1 Cor 12:12) and help each other while each still performs its own function—as the eye sees for the whole body and the hand labors for all the members and the foot walks, sustaining all the members, and another member suffers with all the others—so also the brethren should be among themselves. Let each one do whatever he is doing for the glory of God. He who reads should regard the one praying with love and joy with the thought: “For me he is praying.” And let him who prays consider that what the one working is doing is done for the common good.
And thus the highest concord and peace and oneness of souls “in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3) will bind them together so that they can live together in sincerity, simplicity, and the blessing of God.