2017-04-03
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Changing Face of Monasticism
Communities of Solitude
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Review
 What is Monasticism?
 Give an example of early monasticism.
 What is their mindset? Why are they doing what they are doing?
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Society Deteriorates
 By the 4th and 5th c. A.D.
 Roman Empire had fallen into chaos
Economically and politically
 Invasions by Germanic tribes (barbarians), led to social disintegration
 Monasticism seen as constructive, orderly form of social organization
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Development of the Monastery
 communities of hermits begin to develop
 Monks see the sense of living in community founded on common religious principles
 Remain removed from society
But in a community
Start building Monasteries to live in together
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St. Benedict of
Nursia (480-543 A.D.)
 Born in Nursia
 Studied law in Rome
 Became a hermit (getting away from the moral decay of the city
 Drew people to him, who wanted help ordering their life
 Advocated a more balanced life (the people seeking him out and joining him desired
this)
Combining prayer, meditation, work and service.
 At one point a monastery whose abbot had died invited him to be leader
The community lacked discipline which worried Benedict
Eventually joined them, but the other monk were not fond of his monastic style and
tried to poison him (didn’t work as during a blessing of the pitcher of poison wine,
it broke)
He did decide to leave the community however.
 Established numerous monasteries, including the monastery at Monte Casino, where
he ended his life
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 Established numerous monasteries, including the monastery at Monte Casino, where
he ended his life
 Established Benedictine Monasticism
 Has a twin sister, St Scholastica
She established a convent 5 miles from Monte Cassino
 The twins were buried in the same grave.
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Vows that Monks take
 Monks take three vows:
Poverty
Chastity
Obedience (to God
and the abbot)
 Vows were binding
for life
 Benedictine Monks
also take another vow called Conversatio Morum
roughly translates to “conversion or life” or “reformation of life”
Involves a lifelong focus on conversion of behaviour, and conversion to monastic
living
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Monastery of Monte Cassino
 Built on top of a mountain in 529 A.D.
Cloistered – separate from society
 Halfway b/w Rome and Naples
 Was a self-sufficient community
Supplied itself with food (farming)
Made their own clothing
Maintenance of monastery itself
 Benedict taught the monks how to read and write
So they could read scripture and daily prayers
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The Rule of St. Benedict
 Becomes basic guide for religious life and discipline in communities throughout
Western world
 Outlined a simple and well ordered life
Emphasized “prayer and work” (ora et labora)
Hard work = Prayer, Prayer = Hard work
Praise God with their head, heart and hands
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Hard work = Prayer, Prayer = Hard work
Praise God with their head, heart and hands
Spirit of peace, love and moderation
 Monks’ schedule split into 4 parts:
Prayer and meditation in community (4 hours)
Private prayer and meditation (4 hours)
Physical labour (6 hours)
Meals and sleep (10 hours)
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Quotes from the Rule of St. Benedict
 “The first degree of humility is prompt obedience.”
 “Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed
in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.”
 "When they live by the labor of their hands, as our fathers and the apostles did, then
they are really monks. Yet, all things are to be done with moderation on account of
the faint-hearted.“
 "He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands."
 “The abbot ought ever to bear in mind what he is and what he is called; he ought to
know that to whom more is entrusted, from him more is exacted.”
 “There are times when good words are to be left unsaid out of esteem for silence.”
 “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will
say: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matt. 25:35)”
 “What is not possible to us by nature, let us ask the Lord to supply by the help of his
grace.”
 “Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.”
 “Be careful to be gentle, lest in removing the rust, you break the whole instrument.”
 “No one is to pursue what is judged best for oneself, but instead, what is better for
someone else.”
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Daily Prayer
 Benedict developed the Liturgy of the Hours:
Matins (during the night, at midnight with some
variations)
Lauds or Dawn Prayer (at Dawn, or 3 a.m.)
Prime or Early Morning Prayer (First Hour = approximately 6 a.m.)
Terce or Mid-Morning Prayer (Third Hour = approximately 9 a.m.)
Sext or Midday Prayer (Sixth Hour = approximately 12 noon)
None or Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Ninth Hour = approximately 3 p.m.)
Vespers or Evening Prayer ("at the lighting of the lamps", generally at 6 p.m. or
sunset)
Compline or Night Prayer (before retiring, generally at 9 p.m.)
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Labour
 Labour took place in between times of prayer
After – Prime, Terce, and None
 Focus on:
Manual labour – mostly associated with agriculture
 Different monks did different tasks
 Farming, carpentry, copying texts, gardening, wine/beer making, monastery repairs
 Worked together for good of community
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Day in the Life of a Monk
 About 2:00 am – pray and meditate in the chapel
 Go to their cot for about an hour more of sleep
 Before 6:00 am – monks go back to the chapel
 Private reading and meditation before going back to the chapel
 Morning work – jobs given according to ability and the needs of the monastery
Farming was a common task
Hard work = Prayer, Prayer = Hard Work
 At 9:00 am – back to the chapel
 Followed by more manual labour
 Back to the Chapel at noon
 Lunch follows (First food of the day – veggies and bread, little bit of wine)
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Day in the Life…Cont.
 Take a brief nap, siesta
 3:00 pm, back to the chapel
 Head to the field to tend crops, tailors to sew robes, scriptorium to copy books, or
the bakery to bake bread
 Evening meal
 6:00 pm – go to the chapel again
 Time for private reading and meditation
 9:00 pm – chapel time
 Bed Time
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How Monasticism Saved Western Civilization
 Reading and Writing
With barbarian invasions and takeover, these skills began to decline rapidly
500 – 1000 A.D. – often called the Dark Ages (few record are kept or survive)
 Monks remained some of the only people to keep up with these skills
 In the Scriptorium,
Copied out books by hand, both religious and secular
Often added designs and images (illuminations)
All done by hand, on vellum (mammal skin, usually calf, prepared for writing on)
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Other Monastic Contributions
 Agriculture (farms and vineyards)
 Development of better methods of cultivation
 More efficient and reliable growing techniques
 Establishing new farming areas
 Medicine/Science – advanced understanding of disease, infection and treatment
Theories on workings of the universe
 Making of Alcohol – perfecting of the art/science
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Pope Gregory the Great
 Began as prefect of Roman Empire
 Turned his family mansion into a monastery and became a monk
 590 A.D., elected Pope, didn’t want the job.
 Church reform:
Encouraged proper education of priests
Encouraged priestly celibacy – didn’t require it.
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Greg’s most memorable reform
 Emphasized keeping written record on music
 There was no sheet music
 Melodies often lost
 Ordered church music be written down and organized
 Known as Gregorian Chant
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