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Monasticism (Click to select text)
Monasticism Origin of Monasticism St. Anthony is regarded as the founder of the cenobitic way of life. He lived at Alexandria, and the fame of his sanctity, gentleness, and knowledge, drew many disciples to him. Most of his followers later accompanied him when he set off to live in the desert. One of his disciples, St. Pachomius, later founded a monastery on an island in the Nile River. Pachomius also made up a list of monastic rules, the first ever monastic regulations. Thousands of disciples flocked to him, and he founded several other monasteries for men and one for women under the direction of his sister. All of these houses recognized the authority of a single superior, an abbot or archimandrite. The cenobitic form of monasticism was first introduced into the West by St. Athanasius at Rome. It then spread to Central North Africa by St. Augustine, and to Gaul by St. Martin of Tours. Later, the religious movement by St. Benedict of Nursila, in the 6th century, gave Western Monasticism its permanent form. Types of Monasticism The two basic kinds of monasticism are eremitic and cenobitic. Eremitic is a hermit-lifestyle, and Cenobitic is a communal lifestyle. Eremitic: All Eremitic Monks are hermits, who are people who are persistence in living alone in order to follow a strict discipline of meditation and self-mortification. In the early centuries of Christianity, in the Egyptian deserts, there lived a group of people whose desire was to escape all the evils of the world. They were called eremites, a Greek word meaning "dwellers in the desert", thus the name for the monastic group came about, Eremitic. Other religions, such as Jainism and Hinduism, also have had hermit monks like these.As the number of Egyptian hermits increased during the 3rd and 4th centuries, they began to gather in small groups. These were not really communities, because each hermit followed his own set of rules. There was no communal dining, meditation, or work. Everything was done individually. Cenobitic: The main difference between Cenobitic and Eremitic monasticism, is that the Cenobitic way of life is more communal, and there are sets of rules that everyone follows. They include rules for prayer, worship, study, work, and service. The first community of monks living together and following the same rules was founded in Egypt by Pachomius. It was started in 340, at Tabenna, which is an island in the Nile River. Pachomius built nine monasteries for men and two for women. Definition of Monasticism Because the practice of monasticism varies among the world's religions, a precise definition is difficult. Basically, Monasticism refers to individuals who try to practice religious works, more rigorous and beyond those required by the doctrines of their religion. A more appropriate word for early Christian monasticism, as well as for that practiced by eastern religions today, is asceticism. It means self-denial, and it is rooted in having a negative attitude toward the world. In Christianity the ascetics looked upon the world as a source of temptation and sin. By secluding themselves from it, monks hoped to avoid harmful contacts and to concentrate their energies on salvation alone. Goals and Duties of a Monk Some monks separate themselves from the world and its concerns as much as possible. They may join communities, or they may live in solitude in one place or wander around as mendicants (beggars). In either case they pursue highly individual goals. They seek to get rid of all imperfections and to reach a state of spiritual perfection. They feel that isolation from the world and its temptations aids in their quest for this perfection. In Eastern religions, during this isolation, meditation is used to circumvent both the world and one’s ego. A Buddhist, Jaina, or Hindu monk will attempt to break the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (reincarnation), to escape to another kind of existence altogether, called moksha. Although, not all monks pursue salvation by separation from the world. Some, such as the Franciscans, have combined service to the poor with their individual meditation and study. In the 20th century, Mother Teresa founded an order to serve the poverty-stricken millions of India, yet still save time for private meditation. Monks also play a vital role in the creation, preservation, and transmission of culture. This was especially true of the Christian orders in the Middle Ages. Often during the Middle Ages, the only literate members of the community were the monks. It was their job then, to transcribe thousands of copies of the Bible and other ancient works, and pass them down from generation to generation. They also organized some of the first libraries, and they conducted scientific and other research to benefit the surrounding communities. Also, they were expert farmers, who were able to pass on the benefits of their expertise to the peasants of the communities. Monks in Modern Society Most Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and members of other religions are ordinary citizens. They work and lead normal lives. But, in most major religions there are also numerous individuals who devote themselves full-time to the quest for salvation. They are monks, and their way of life is called monasticism. Both of these words are derived from a Greek term that means "living alone". The definition was once accurate in referring to early Christian hermits, but today it is misleading because many monks, and their female counterparts nuns, live in communities. Many are deeply involved in the world around them as teachers, social workers, missionaries, nurses, or in other vocations. Monks are to be distinguished from the clergy. Priests, ministers, and rabbis are full-time professionals who are trained to work in society. They have a religious vocation. But the direction their work takes is quite different from the highly individualized style of life undertaken by monks. Monks are not trained professionals, they are simply people who want to better fulfill their lives. The only vow a monk takes, are the three he swears to before entering a monastery. They are the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. All of them are enforced, and they are obeyed by all members. Important Monks in Western Monasticism Benedict of Nursila - Benedict of Nursila was a monk who lived from 480-547. He is considered the "father of western monasticism", even though he didn’t find any monasteries. He is famous for his rules for governing monastic life, which became widely adapted in Europe after the 7th century. His rules were a complete guidance for the governing of a monastery, both spiritual and material. The rules promoted the ideals of moderation and cooperation in the religious community. It also demanded strict following of the three vows, and fidelity, from those who chose this religious life. Benedict of Aniane - Benedict of Aniane lived from 750AD-821AD. He was a bishop and saint, and is considered the restorer of Western monasticism. Benedict of Aniane lived his life in accordance with strict rules of asceticism and was the director of all the monasteries of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperor Louis the Pious, who built a monastery for him at Inde, near Aachen, Germany, supported him. Benedict's restructuring of the monastic life was far reaching, but because other monks protested aspects of his austere life-style devoted to prayer, study, fasting, chastity, self-denial, and mortification, he was not able to make all the changes he would have liked. A Monk’s Normal Day A monk’s day revolves around the Liturgy. The “hours” at which these celebrations occur, is known as the Liturgy of the Hours. They focus on meeting with God. All events marked with Liturgy, are part of the Liturgy of the Hours. Prime (Liturgy) 7:00 A.M. Spiritual time 7:30 A.M. Terce (Liturgy) 8:00 A.M. Conventual Mass 8:15 A.M. Private masses/spiritual reading 9:00 A.M. Manual work 10:30 A.M. Sext (Liturgy) 11:15 A.M. Lunch, then light work and rest 11:30 A.M. None (Liturgy) 1:15 P.M. Study 1:30 P.M. Manual work 3:00 P.M. Vespers (Liturgy) 3:30 P.M. Spiritual exercises 4:00 P.M. Supper 5:30 P.M. Recollection 6:15 P.M. Compline (Liturgy) 6:45 P.M. Tidying up jobs 7:00 P.M. Sleep 7:45 P.M. Matins (Liturgy) 12:00 A.M. Lauds (Liturgy) 2:00 A.M. Sleep 2:30 A.M.
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