Hi everyone,
I hope you enjoyed the first lecture and tutorial and feel ready to face the material of week 2 focussing on the forms of Christian life in the Early Medieval World. One of the figures we'll be looking at is St Benedict of Nursia.
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| Saint Benedict: detail from a fresco by Fra Angelico |
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| The restored Monte Cassino Abbey |
From the reading for this week, Cruz and Gerberding propose that "living alone in constant prayer and contemplation is seen as the best way to renounce the world, battle its temptations, and purify oneself for God." (p.124). For many reasons this solitary life was not always practical and as a result monasteries were formed, though the aim always was, in some way, to be living alone. How does Benedict's Rule enable monks to "live alone together"?
I think Benedict's Rule enabled monks to "live alone together" through the combination of the abbot and the strict timetable. I think the abbot was able to regulate the excesses of the monks and provide guidance, while the strict timetable of prayer and rituals gave the monastic life order and spirituality, allowing them to 'renounce the world' in their ascetism and individual contemplations.
ReplyDeleteBenedict's Rule enables monks to "live alone together" by providing the monks with rules that they all obey in order to try and lead a solitary life devoted to God, but in a practical manner, which means amongst others of the same wish.
ReplyDeleteBy secluding themselves in the monestary, although they are all together, they are mostly of one mind, and the Rule then allows them to fulfill what they wish to achieve alone: battling the world's temptations and purifying oneself for God.
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ReplyDeleteI think Benedict’s Rule enabled monks to “live alone together”, since these monks live in a community that’s main focus is to teach and guide, though a strict schedule of pray and sleep. This enables them to become closer to god, denying pleasure that taint the world, therefore they reject the worlds and all its sins, resulting in the need to self sufficiently heal and cleanse themselves, of sin. (Such as eating to much, resulting in starvation and self-mutilations) These monks share a common purpose, rejection of the world and finding the path to heaven, which make them figuratively ‘together’. While on the other hand they are still “living alone in constant prayer”. These monks share a community, but each “live in the wilderness”, they are arriving to the same destination but choosing different road, (pardon the analogy) which is self purification. So these monks “live alone” though their single path to a spiritual high, but also “live together” from learning teachings and guidance.
ReplyDeleteSt Benedict's rule does show the best way for the monks to be living alone together. Since their purpose is to spend their lives away from the rest of the world in order to renounce the evil of the world and to purify themselves for God, they should be separated from the world. However, if each one was to live alone individually, they may stray from the truth and spend their lives with a distorted idea of the nature of Christianity. So to have abbots as the spiritual fathers of the monks, and for them to have a strict routine of prayer sleep, ensures that they spend their time meditating on the right christian truths and correct nature of God.
ReplyDelete@Joshua Little - I do agree that it was surprisingly totalitarian, I found that fascinating when I read. That idea of having everything taken away from them, and that really big thing that the monks should never have any physical possessions, not even a pen... makes me think that a lot of these harsh strictures both gave people a sense of comfort (we never have to organise ourselves, every decision is always made for us) and a sense that they were still suffering as per the Christian ideal of knowing God through suffering.
ReplyDeleteBenedict's Rule enables monks to "live alone together" through the rules of the monastery. While the monks live "together" in the monastery they also live "alone", separated from the rest of the world. This enables them to resist tempations as they are removed from the majority of society, without living in complete social seclusion.
ReplyDeleteFrom the lecture today my understanding was that Benedicts Rule had to be so strict and so monitoured because the outside world was in such mayhem. Bennedicts Rule enabled the monks to live safely, in protected walls, while also allowing them to fufil the solitary life of a monk. Living away from temptation and sin, but living surrounded by others for protction and general benefits of sustainable food etc.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the extract from Benedict's Rule, it is clear that the monks lived a very strict and secluded life. They were not only physically separated from the general public by the walls of the Monastery but by the rules and regimes set to them. They were deindividuated in that they were to possess no personal belongings, given no choice as to food, drink, clothes and labours of the day among others. They were considered to be "together" both physically and spiritually (they shared a common faith and goal) which provided beneficial and practical for the purpose of maintenance and supervision but were required to live in almost absolute silence and blind obedience; thus is how they were able to live alone without being "alone".
ReplyDeleteWoops! Thats me sorry, absolutely no idea why I have a "." instead of my name...
DeleteBenedict's rule enabled monks to "live alone together" through the monastery. Although the monks were not allowed to be individual through lack of belongings and personal endeavours, the monastery provided many positives for the monks. During a time where raids and battles raged in the outside world, the monastery provided a place of silent contemplation and peace in which Gods' presence was perceived to have held great importance. Through the lack of possesions, the monks were able to connect to a deeper level inside themselves which was not corrupted by the material world or the notion of greed and other such sins. The monastery also provided like-minded individuals who would not conflict with their moral obligations as followers of God.
ReplyDeleteThe monks led a very structured life as defined in the Rule of St Benedict. They lived in silence, devoting their lives to prayer and labour. The daily routine was carried out according to strict rules. They were together as a group, following the same routine, but their activities did not require interaction with others. Therefore they lived alone together.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry this is slightly outside the time limit, however I had some issues making an account to post these comments, please forgive my tardiness.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the extract provided on The Rule of St. Benedict it appears that the cenobitic monks lived a life of collective isolationism. i.e. They developed a small community that essentially cut themselves off from the outside world and became self-dependant, producing their own food and containing an almost complete collection of essential services for the monastic community. While the Abbot's duties in each monastery could be interpreted as administerial and ultimately envoked in him a legitimacy to his leadership of the monks of each monastery his true purpose, and indeed those of all monks, was ultimately a quest for spiritual enlightenment.
This quest was facilitated by the monks isolation, and, according to the prologue of the text appears to be the main purpose: "Thus, never departing from His guidance, continuing in the monastery in his teaching until death... that we may merit to be companions in His kingdom."
While the monks did not have a choice in their individual tastes, duties or apparel, and this was all decided by the abbot in solitary contemplation I would not say that the monks followed blindly. These were people who, for the most part, chose to stay within the confines of the monastery due to their beliefs and likely, in their opinion, chose to follow the abbots teaching out of a sense of enlightened obedience. To an extent the monks imposed restrictions upon themselves.
Certainly not all monks followed this way; anchorites were hermetic and the sarabaites and gyratorians essentially roamed according to their own whims and desires, preaching their own views on right and wrong. However, this is the opinion of the text and is not above criticism and speculation.
ReplyDeleteNor can we say that these cenobites were truly isolated and "lived alone together" in a kind of self-contained order, indeed, new initiates would visit to join the monastery (Pt. 58). Also, the countryside surrounding these monasteries at the time was a violent and turbulent place filled with the potential for barbarian attack from the various Germanic tribes of each region, or more exotic conquerors such as Attila the Hun. During periods of particular unrest nearby villagers would shelter in these monasteries, and travelling pilgrims, or indeed sarabaites and gyratorians would visit to seek food and shelter from the difficulties of the unprotected wilderness. Remember, these monasteries were heavily fortified and isolated, and could be well defended in times of peril, should the need arise.
Many of the limitations placed on the brothers were purely practical; for example, food, while bland and without choice was rationed carefully. Two meals, per brother per day was considered enough for each so that supplies could last considerably longer than otherwise, should conditions warrant rationing. There was also leeway to increase anything at the abbots discretion, be it food, during times of particularly good harvest: "if some great labour shall have been performed, it shall be in the will and power of the abbot to increase anything" (Pt. 39), and while monks were not allowed personal belongings they could be given what was needed should the abbot "give or permit" the item in question. (Pt. 33)
To summarise, the monks lived isolated lives in a small monastic community that was self-contained and ultimately self-providing. The abbot essentially dictated the law of the enclosed society, but was not without leeway, good will or selfish ideals of power as each carefully meditated law was designed to benefit the faithful community and further their goal of achieving their common spiritual goal of entering heaven. However, to say they did not interact with the outside world is impossible as monasteries were places of refuge and sanctity for villagers and travelling monks, regardless of their own moral and ethical leanings. When the monks "lived alone together" it is more accurate to describe this as the way the monks lived, rather than the reality; they did exist in isolated communities, but not without visitors.
Edit to my last comment...
ReplyDeleteI realized after my post that I had worded some of my sentences poorly near the beginning of my last paragraph; it should read like this...
"The Abbot essentially dictated the law of the enclosed society, but was not without leeway or good will and did not harbour selfish ideals regarding power. Each carefully mediated law was designed to benefit the faithful community and further their common spiritual goal of entering Heaven."
I am sorry for any confusion or difficulty in flow this may have caused.
The lives that were pursued through obedience to the strict guidance of St Benedict's Rule, would have been extremely solitary in nature. The set hours of silence spent reading, preoccupation with manual labour, as well as an abiding devotion to god would have facilitated a highly internalised environment. The cenobites are removed of personal identification and are uniformed in their goal of holy redemption from inherent sin. This is a goal however, that can only be pursued on a metaphysical level and therefore in relative isolation. Their limited personal communication would have also amplified a sense of seclusion among peers.
ReplyDeleteFrom the readings, i've it seems clear that St Benedict's Rule was a strong system for helping Monks isolate themselves from the rest of the world and further their connection to God. The monasteries Segregated monks from the outside world in both a physical and spiritual way. This dual system of segregation was perfectly positioned to help monks reflect on their religion.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, monks found themselves physically withdrawn from the world. They were surrounded by stone walls which kept them away from the world, they had no possessions of any kind, even the clothes that they wore were provided by the monastery. Each day the hours were filled with manual labour which would keep the monks focused on their situation; their decision to do naught but follow god and achieve a higher level of spirituality. The removal of earthly possessions and isolation physically from non religious people worked to keep them focused and righteous.
Their spiritual isolation was the second aspect of their time in the monastery. Each day had a set of strict rules which would affect them mentally and change their outlook on life. In between sessions of Labour they would be locked in prayer, chanting and reciting psalms with any mistakes being met with criticism and even punishment by the Abbot of their group. The strict rules regarding sleeping and waking times was also a large factor of their lives. The Rule states that they must arise without complaint, using the motivation of acting in God's favour as a motivation for the early starts.
Overall, St Benedict's Rule was a solid set of regulations which governed all the actions of all the monks within a monastery. It worked to isolate and assist the hermits in their endeavour of solitude without causing them to feel unduly interfered with in their vow of estrangement.
I think that the monks were "able to live alone together" under Benedict's rule, because of their devotion to a rigid structure and timetable, which enabled them to live a life devoted to God, through teachings, prayer and contemplation.
ReplyDeleteThe monks were of one common belief and purpose, so therefore, whilst they were physically together, they were also alone, and away from the rest of the world.
As I gather from the readings, both male and female monasticism were traditions which long preceded the time of Benedict and the proliferation of his Rule. Benedict was also not the first to attempt to codify a code of monastic conduct. Benedict's Rule, however, was particularly successful in recognising and addressing the impracticalities of a solitary religious life — both the notion that one could easily stray from the Christian path without guidance, and the reality that people such as Benedict himself would regularly attract followers. Benedict's Rule successfully strikes a balance between the desired life of solitary prayer and isolation from society, and the practical reality of necessary communal living. Monks would live together physically, but in an environment where one's solitary communion with god was the focus (as Benedict's strict prayer schedule attests).
ReplyDeleteI think that Benedict’s Rule enables the monks to ‘live alone together’ in several ways. In living under a strict timetable and remaining secluded from the outside world to prevent themselves from being tainted, the monks are ‘living alone’. However, as pointed out by various others, the monks all live in the monastery ‘together’. They can each go about their routine, find their inner peace and purify themselves for God comfortably, knowing that although they lead a solitary life, they all do so ‘together’ with others who are also seeking to achieve a similar goal and are devoted to God. From a more practical approach, the monks living together prevents them from the complete isolation of human company, and enables a simple and sustainable communal lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Erica made an interesting point about the comfort and suffering.
From my reading, Benedict's Rule helped monks live alone together because the monks could monitor each other, preventing them straying from the "true path". The communal conditions also helped the monks concentrate on the spiritual, without having to worry about being bothered by unwanted followers... or roving barbarians.
ReplyDeleteIn order to renounce the world around them, Monastic Monks of early Christianity banded together under Benedictine Rule. This provided a framework under which the values and virtues of Christianity could be administered and fought for seven times daily through prayer and a guiding Abbot. The silent, reticent and strict nature of monasteries outlined by Benedict provides the closest practical way to being alone and living piously among others.
ReplyDelete