A monastic community is a human community. While striving for union with God and one another and for harmony with the created world, a Benedictine monastery is dependent upon tangible goods and services. Thus it must concern itself with temporalities. A Benedictine monastery must prudently acquire what is necessary to meet its corporate responsibilities in these areas. As stewards, they are called to share these resources among themselves and with others of the human family who have needs.
Corporate ownership obliges each sister to use all things with care and in moderation.
The official administrators of the temporal goods of the community, as well as the members, are responsible for the wise use of the monastery's resources. Benedictine communities must administer their corporate holdings justly so that they will be able to witness publicly to the evangelical poverty each member has promised in her commitment to monastic life. In a culture which acquires wealth for its own sake, Benedictine communities will thus be reminders of the transient value of earthly things and of everyone's right to share in God's abundant gifts.