MONASTICISM
Since early Christian times, groups of people have
chosen to live apart from society for the express
purpose of spending time in prayer, solitude, and
reflection. In the third century, a man named
Antony is reported to have established a life alone
in the desert, praying to overcome spiritual
temptations. The beginnings of monasticism can
be traced to his life. Others joined this solitary
lifestyle, eventually moving closer to each other for
mutual support and safety. By the mid-fourth
century, nine monasteries for men and two
convents for women had been established in
Egypt. The groups of men became known as
monks, and the women as nuns. In the beginning,
monks were not priests, but did lead a religious
life. St. Benedict (480-550 CE) laid down a set of
instructions for his community to follow. This rule
of St. Benedict has evolved into a code still used
by monasteries and convents throughout the
Christian world.
In order for the communities to survive, monks and
nuns not only led a life of prayer, but also lived
self-sufficiently. Many had farms that provided
food for the community and a source of income
from the sale of products. Some monasteries
began to generate wealth to be put to use in the
service of the Church. The monks and nuns would
find time in the day for serious reading and study
of scripture. Monks and nuns became scholars
and teachers of Christian values. During medieval
times, communities copied and treasured books of
ancient learning. Many monasteries can be
credited with saving most of the ancient
manuscripts of Western philosophy and history
that exist today from dark periods of history when
attempts were made to destroy that knowledge.
Their libraries are great treasures of knowledge.
Monks and nuns take vows of poverty, chastity,
and obedience. They promise to live under the
spiritual discipline and rule of the community.
Today, these communities still live apart from the
mainstream. However, not all monks and nuns
lived in separate groups. There exist groups of
monks and nuns engaged in pastoral ministry (ie:
teaching, hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes),
living and working with the general population.
For those who live in monasteries. Life has
changed very little in the last millennium. They still
rise early in the morning, pray, work, and reflect.
Some communities still support themselves by
traditional means: the monks in Oka, Quebec
produce world renowned cheeses, while the
Benedictines in France make excellent liqueurs.
Several communities have kept pace with the
modern world and established an on-line
presence. The Monks of Christ in the Desert (New
Mexico) have a “cyber library” of references
(www.christdesert.org), the Benedictines have the
Order of St. Benedict take prayer requests on-line
(www.osb.org), and the Monks of Adoration
(monkadorer0.tripod.com) have a twenty-four hour
web-cam on their altar and audio prayers.
Statistic: Approximately 8,400 men and 14,600 women are
living in monastic communities; statistics on oblates (lay
associates) living outside monasteries are not recorded
(Catalogus Monasteriorum O.S.B., Rome, 2000).
Questions:
1. When/How did the first monasteries
appear?
2. What is the nature of monastic life?
3. What is the role that Christian monasteries
have played in preserving Christian
spirituality and knowledge?
4. What do you think causes people to want
to join a monastery?
5. What contributions have monks/nuns made
to society?