Monasticism

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Monasticism
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Why Monasticism Matters

• Preservation of national/international unity
• Moral authority
• Institutionalized memory
• Literacy and linguistic skills
• Politics

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St. Benedict of Nursia (ca. 480-547)

• Rule of St. Benedict
• Vows
• Poverty
• Chastity
• Obedience
• Stability
• Ora et labora
• Divine office

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The Divine Office

• Eight services matins (midnight), lauds (dawn),
  prime (6 am), terce (9 am), sext (noon), nones (3
  pm), vespers (sunset), compline (ca. 9 pm)
• Based on Ps. 119
• Pray the Psalter weekly
• Gregorian chant

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Choir monks and nuns

• Pray speak and read Latin
• Book illumination

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Lay brothers and sisters

• Say Prime and then go to work
• Farming
• Managing the abbey resources
• Administering, etc.

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Nuns habit (St. Clare of Assisi)
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Hugh of St. Victor teaching novices
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Monastic illuminator
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Plan of St. Gall, ca. 830