Monastic Life of the Church

Question 1

Early asceticism did not regard matter as evil. Instead, it adopted self denial as’ what?

Answer 1

• The renunciation of the good, in pursuit of a higher life.

* To be more fully dedicated to religious ministry

Question 2

What are the three ‘terms employed for ascetics’ and what do they mean?

Answer 2

Monk: “a solitary man; one who lives alone”
Anchorite: “one who withdraws”
Hermit: “adopting a solitary life; from the word for a deserted region.”

Question 3

What is the term that describes ‘some form of community life’?

Answer 3

Cenobite

Question 4

What are the three forms of monasticism developed in Egypt?

Answer 4

Hermit
Cenobitic
Intermediate

Question 5

Explain the Hermit lifestyle.

Answer 5

Individual monks lived in isolation
Embodied a spiritual struggle in prayer and meditation
Demonstrated by Antony

Question 6

Explain the Cenobitic Lifestyle.

Answer 6

A group of monks lived, prayed, and worked together
Under a superior
Developed by Pachomius

Question 7

Explain the intermediate lifesyle

Answer 7

a loosely organized group of small settlements in close proximity
2 to 6 people
Pioneered by Ammun

Question 8

What was the ‘distinctive development of the hermit life’ that took place in Syria and who was the first to live that life?

Answer 8

-Pillar Saints
Living on a small platform atop an abandoned column
Typified by Symeon Stylites
He progressively raised the height of his pillar to increase his separation from the earth & people
Focused on moving “heavenward” (from the lecture)

Question 9

Who was ‘the real originator of what is known as Basilian monasticism’?

Answer 9

Basil’s older sister, Macrina

Question 10

According to the Benedictine rule, ‘how many hours of a day were to be spent in worship and meditation’?

Answer 10

10

Question 11

On the basis of Psalm 119:62 & 164, the Benedictine rule appointed eight times of prayer – what are they?

Answer 11

1) Night office or vigils (2am in the winter)
2) Lauds (daybreak)
3) Prime, terce, sext, & none (the four little offices, which were field hours)
4) Vespers (a half-hour before sunset
5) Compline (before retiring)

Question 12

What are the seven deadly sins and how did they come to be?

Answer 12

•Gregory the Great modified John Cassian’s & Evagrius’s lists of 8 principal sins
•Became known as the “seven deadly sins” in medieval moral teaching
1) Pride (vainglory)
2) Covetousness (avarice)
3) Lust
4) Envy
5) Gluttony
6) Anger
7) Sloth (acedia – weariness of heart, apathy, or depression)

Question 13

What was ‘the center from which the monastic renewal in the eleventh century was to come’?

Answer 13

• Cluny

* Established in 909/910

Question 14

What was the ‘tendency’ that contributed to the push for a celibate clergy?

Answer 14

• The tendency was that sons of clergy could inherit the church property without have any priestly qualifiers himself
• Seemed to be a lead into feudalism within churches
• Eliminating the possibility of having a son would allow the church to not have to deal with inheritance problems

Question 15

To what did ‘the Cluniac monks (apply) the word’ simony?

Answer 15

The act of selling church services and buying spiritual gifts

Question 16

What did ‘reformers of monastic life (in both older and newer foundations) typically [advocate]’?

Answer 16

• Austerity and regularity of life
• Greater seclusion from the world
• Silence
• Manual labor

Question 17

The ‘Cistercians were critical of Cluny’s’ what?

Answer 17

• Wealth
• Large and ornate church
• Elaboration of the liturgy
• Easy life with serfs to do the work for him

Question 18

‘The great expansion of the Cistercians n the twelfth century was primarily due to’ whose influence?

Answer 18

•Bernard of Clairvaux

Question 19

What is the contradiction in the life of Bernard of Clairvaux that Ferguson describes as ‘indicative of both the spirit of the times and the contradictions in human character?

Answer 19

•The fact that he could promote a crusade – while still being a person who taught so eloquently about love & practiced deep piety

Question 20

did mendicant vows of poverty differ from the vows of poverty taken by earlier monks?

Answer 20

• Mendicant monks sought to impose poverty on their communities as well as on individual monks

Question 21

What are ‘the activities that became characteristic of Dominicans’?

Answer 21

• Preaching
• Care of souls
• Missions
• Combating heresy
• Training in theology

Question 22

Who ‘was the first woman to write a rule approved by the papacy (1253)’?

Answer 22

• Saint Clare

Question 23

To what were ‘the friars… not bound’?

Answer 23

• To the old requirement of stability – or staying in one monastic location
• The purpose was to bring the Christian message to the people

Question 24

What was the basis for Antony’s decision to give ‘the possessions of his forefathers to the villagers’?

Answer 24

To be like the apostles in scripture

Question 25

What, according to Athanasius, was the state of the monastic movement at the time of Antony’s determination to devote himself to discipline?

Answer 25

There were just a few hermits living in the dessert alone a this time

Question 26

What passage from scripture does Athanasius use in VA 7 to explain Antony’s increasing asceticism after his defeat of the devil?

Answer 26

Romans viii 3-4

Question 27

Which book of scripture is quoted the most in the prologue of Rule of Benedict?

Answer 27

Psalms

Question 28

According to Benedict, ‘in drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down’ what?

Answer 28

Nothing harsh or burdensome

Question 29

What are the four kinds of monks that Benedict identifies?

Answer 29

• Cenobites - someone who belongs to a monastery
• Anchorites - completed training and moved out to the wilderness
• Serabaites - no rule or superior to guide them, do whatever the think is best
• Gyrovagues - wander around from region to region and not stable

Question 30

According to Benedict, the abbot ‘is believed to hold the place of (whom) in the monastery’?

Answer 30

Christ

Question 31

What is ‘the first step of humility… which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all’?

Answer 31

Unhesitating obedience

Question 32

Where will the monk arrive after ascending the twelve steps of humility?

Answer 32

Perfect love of God which casts out fear

Question 33

What are some ways in which the Rule advises moderation?

Answer 33

Moderate consumption of wine
Reasonable to arise after digestion
Fruits and vegetables are permitted during fasting

Question 34

What are the three factors that determine rank in the monastery, according to Benedict?

Answer 34

Date of their entry, virtue of their life, decision of the abbot

Question 35

What is the process and what are the criteria for choosing an abbot, according to RB 64?

Answer 35

Selected by the entire community unanimously, OR a part of the community no matter how small; Criteria = goodness of life and wisdom in teaching

Question 36

What is Asceticism?

Answer 36

• defining feature of the monastic movement

- askesis: “exercise” or “training”

Question 37

What are the three rough categories of ascetic practices?

Answer 37

communion with god, disciplined or righteous behavior, reparation of ruptures with God caused by failing to behave correctly

Question 38

What are the two ESSENTIAL practices of asceticism?

Answer 38

1- Exercise of disciplined effort;

2- abstention from an otherwise permitted earthly desire

Question 39

Monasticism is a practice which involves the positive exercise of disciplined effort and is motivated by one of the three ideals ___, ____, and ____.

Answer 39

communion with God
disciplined behavior
reparation of ruptures with God.

Question 40

What was the earliest document depicting monastic life, particularly withdrawal from society?

Answer 40

Life of Antony by Athanasius

Question 41

Antony was the first to practice anachoresis or “withdrawal” - Why did he withdraw?

Answer 41

There are only about three models of withdrawal in Greek philosophy so the only reliable source of his motivation is Life of Antony, seems to be a response to his personal interpretation of scripture

Question 42

Who were the key players in Medieval Monasticism?

Answer 42

John Cassian and Benedict of Nursia:
Cassian wrote the Institutes on how to live the monastic life and the Conferences which is a theological discussion of the movement; brought form of moderate Egyptian asceticism to Europe
Argues for a progression from communal to eremitic living

Question 43

Who were the mendicants?

Answer 43

Mendicants - means “one who begs”; differ because they advocate communal poverty in addition to individual poverty
Dominicans: Order of Preaching Brothers
Franciscans: Order of Little Brothers
Augustinians and Carmelites