Monasticism in the Medieval World - Essay Example

Jillian DeCorte Hum 122-001 Mackey 20 April, Mid Term Paper Monasticism in the Medieval World How would you feel if you had to answerto someone and live under a rigorous schedule every day for the rest of your life? As I read “The Rule of St. Benedict,” I reflected on what it would be like to live such as life and pondered how the ideas expressed in “The Rule of St. Benedict” reflect the values of the medieval world. During the Middle Ages, Monasticism was a prominent religion that had great influence. Monasticism shares the same values and ideals as the medieval world, and differs from most other religions in its focus on eternity rather than mortality, community rather than the individual, and value hierarchy. The medieval worldview revolved around a sense of community rather than individualism. Society was divided into three divisions: those who pray, those who work, and those who fight. These different groups of people had to work together to meet the community’s needs. The values of the medieval world reflected a focus on eternity rather than mortality, an economic structure that privileged land and traditions, and a focus on the community rather than the individual. Monasticism (from Greek μοναχός, monachos, derived from Greek monos, alone) is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote oneself to spiritual work (Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia). Monks would live in communities and live a life characterized by celibacy, poverty, and obedience. Monks would move into secluded areas, separating themselves from society in order to live as monks under the authority of an abbot. A monk’s daily life was divided into three parts: holy work, holy study, and holy prayer. Monks followed a very strict and rigorous schedule and were expected to do exactly as they were told without any hesitation, delay, grumbling, or complaint (St. Benedict of Nursia 3-4). Everyone living within the community would work together for one common purpose and goal. They all would do holy work, holy prayer, and holy study. Each individual in the monastery had to fulfill his orders and be obedient to make sure the community needs were met. The main value emphasized by monasticism was the priority of the community before the individual. All members of the community must work together to meet a common purpose as heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Monasticism deemphasizes the individual. All members of the religion share the common goal of dwelling in the tabernacle, so they must grow in religious life and faith. They shall learn to follow God’s commandments with expanded hearts and unspeakable sweetness of love (St. Benedict of Nursia 3, par. 3). Focusing on the community rather than the individual was important not only in monasticism but also throughout the medieval world. St. Benedict was a religious leader in medieval times who established monasteries across Europe in the Middle Ages and had great influence on the religion of Monasticism. The followers of “The Rule of Saint Benedict” were called Benedictines. The spread of Monasticism dominated religious life in the Middle Ages. St. Benedict started these monasteries because he believed that a rigid life of prayer, study, and work in a monastery showed devotion to God and would lead to eternal life after death. His ideas were very influential in medieval society and influenced the common way of life. In paragraph two of “The Rule of Saint Benedict Prologue,” St. Benedict says, “To thee, therefore, my speech is now directed, who, giving up thine own will, takest up the strong and most excellent arms of obedience, to do battle for Christ the Lord, the true King” (St. Benedict of Nursia 2). This quote reflects how must devotion a monk living in a monastery must have in daily life. Benedict’s plan involved life in a community to which all members contributed, and this model was also present in wider society. A system of hierarchy was just as important in monasteries as in the wider medieval world. Wider society was organized around a social structure that people must follow, the same way the monastery followed a hierarchy of power in which the abbots had higher prestige. The position of abbots and monks could be compared to kings and peasants. The abbot ruled over the monks like a father does his children and a king does to his subjects. A newcomer could enter the community only after going through a probationary period, which was used to test him for the required virtues of humility and obedience. The details of the daily life of a monk were organized by a daily monastic schedule (St. Benedict of Nursia). They would wake up early in the morning to go to Nocturns, which is the office of matins. This would consist of nine psalms and either three or nine lessons. Then monks would have a time for their own private reading and studying. Mass followed private study, and then breakfast was eaten in silence. Then there were a few hours in which monks would take a break from studying to do work around the monastery. After work, they returned to Sext, a divine office. After Sext came dinner, which was around noon and was the main meal of the day. Dinner was also eaten in silence, while one monk read aloud a book of spiritual, educational, or cultural interest. After dinner was None, another divine office. Following None, the monks would do more work around the monastery for another three hours. After completing their work, they would return to an evening service known as Vespers. After Vespers, there was another half hour of private prayer and reading. After their private studying, they would have an hour for supper and recreation. Around 7:30 pm, they would wrap their day up with prayer and go to bed. Similarly, life outside the monastery revolved around strict schedules in which people had to complete daily tasks to earn a living. Both Monasticism and the medieval world as whole placed an emphasis on eternity rather than mortality. Monasticism believed that living under rigorous rules, having self-discipline, and living in accordance with the word of God would allow them to live on after death in the kingdom of God. In medieval times, one of the main ideals was the focus on eternity. The church had great influence and played a huge role in politics and order in the world during the 7th century, so that most of society, although not dedicated to service in the same way as monks, held similar beliefs about life after death and eternity. St. Benedict was a religious leader who had a huge effect on religion during medieval times and helped spread Monasticism throughout Europe. He instigated a rigorous schedule and religious rules that reflected the same ideals and values that were already present in medieval society, and this compatibility may have helped the spread of Monasticism. Both religion and society placed an emphasis on eternity rather than mortality and community rather than the individual, and followed systems of hierarchy and traditions. This agreement of values may account for the success of Monasticism in spreading throughout Europe and becoming a prominent religion during the Middle Ages. Works Cited “Monasticism.” Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc., 2012. Web. 20 Apr. 2012. St. Benedict of Nursia. “The Rule of St. Benedict.” 2012, Web. 20 Apr. 2012. Read More