A Mini Guide to Medieval Monks | Animated History

Summary

In medieval Britain, religious communities like the Benedictines, Cluniacs, Cistercians, and Carthusians thrived. Benedictines followed communal prayer, work, and hospitality. Cluniacs emphasized grand worship and art. Cistercians sought simplicity and austerity, doing manual labor themselves. Carthusians were the most austere, living in solitude. However, Henry VIII's dissolution of monasteries in the 16th century disrupted their lives, forcing them into an uncertain future.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Medieval Britain was home to numerous religious communities, with four major movements adhering to the 'Rule of Saint Benedict'.
• ⏰ The Rule of Saint Benedict, adopted in the 7th century, emphasized communal prayer, reading, and manual work as the core activities of monastic life.
• 🎶 Benedictine monks gathered daily for eight services, reflecting the centrality of prayer in their daily routine.
• 📚 Time for reading and copying manuscripts was integral to the Benedictine lifestyle, contributing to the preservation of knowledge.
• 🌳 Monasteries had a social responsibility to provide hospitality and alms, serving as centers of charity and community service.
• 💡 The Cluniacs, an 11th-century reform, sought a more grandiose worship style, incorporating beautiful art and architecture.
• 👕 In Cluniac monasteries, servants performed manual labor, allowing monks to focus more on worship and less on physical work.
• 🏞️ Cistercian monasteries, in contrast, were established in secluded areas, emphasizing simplicity, austerity, and self-sufficiency.
• 🕰️ Cistercian services were shorter, and monks engaged in farming and manual labor, pursuing a more austere spiritual life.
• 🧙‍♂️ The Carthusians were the most austere, living and praying in solitary cells, coming together only for a few services daily.
• 🏚️ The 16th-century dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII forced monks and nuns into an uncertain future, ending their committed religious lives.

Q & A

What was the 'Rule of Saint Benedict'?

The 'Rule of Saint Benedict' was a set of guidelines for monastic life, emphasizing communal prayer, reading, and manual work.

When was the 'Rule of Saint Benedict' first adopted in England?

The 'Rule of Saint Benedict' was first adopted in England in the 7th century.

How many services did the monks gather for each day according to the Benedictine rule?

According to the Benedictine rule, monks gathered for eight services each day.

What types of manual work were monks involved in?

Monks were involved in manual work such as gardening, cleaning, or copying manuscripts.

What was the Benedictine motto?

The Benedictine motto was 'Pray and work.'

How did the Cluniacs differ from the Benedictines in their interpretation of the monastic life?

The Cluniacs wanted a grander style of worship, celebrating God through beautiful art, architecture, and elaborate services.

What was the role of servants in Cluniac monasteries?

In Cluniac monasteries, servants did some of the manual labor, allowing monks to focus more on worship and prayer.

Why did the Cistercians find the Cluniac lifestyle too opulent?

The Cistercians sought a simpler, more austere spiritual life, in contrast to the opulent lifestyle of the Cluniacs.

Where were Cistercian monasteries typically built?

Cistercian monasteries were typically built in secluded areas to promote a simpler and more austere lifestyle.

How did the Carthusians differ from other monastic orders?

Carthusian monks lived and prayed in solitary cells, only coming together for a few services each day, making their lifestyle the most austere among the orders.

What event in the 16th century had a significant impact on religious communities in Britain?

Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century forced many who had committed to a religious community to step out into an uncertain future.