Monastic Life of the Church Flashcards
Early asceticism did not regard matter as evil. Instead, it adopted self denial as’ what?
- The renunciation of the good, in pursuit of a higher life.
* To be more fully dedicated to religious ministry
What are the three ‘terms employed for ascetics’ and what do they mean?
Monk: “a solitary man; one who lives alone”
Anchorite: “one who withdraws”
Hermit: “adopting a solitary life; from the word for a deserted region.”
What is the term that describes ‘some form of community life’?
Cenobite
What are the three forms of monasticism developed in Egypt?
Hermit
Cenobitic
Intermediate
Explain the Hermit lifestyle.
Individual monks lived in isolation
Embodied a spiritual struggle in prayer and meditation
Demonstrated by Antony
Explain the Cenobitic Lifestyle.
A group of monks lived, prayed, and worked together
Under a superior
Developed by Pachomius
Explain the intermediate lifesyle
a loosely organized group of small settlements in close proximity
2 to 6 people
Pioneered by Ammun
What was the ‘distinctive development of the hermit life’ that took place in Syria and who was the first to live that life?
-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)
Who was ‘the real originator of what is known as Basilian monasticism’?
Basil’s older sister, Macrina
According to the Benedictine rule, ‘how many hours of a day were to be spent in worship and meditation’?
10
On the basis of Psalm 119:62 & 164, the Benedictine rule appointed eight times of prayer – what are they?
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)
What are the seven deadly sins and how did they come to be?
•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)
What was ‘the center from which the monastic renewal in the eleventh century was to come’?
- Cluny
* Established in 909/910
What was the ‘tendency’ that contributed to the push for a celibate clergy?
- 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
To what did ‘the Cluniac monks (apply) the word’ simony?
The act of selling church services and buying spiritual gifts
What did ‘reformers of monastic life (in both older and newer foundations) typically [advocate]’?
- Austerity and regularity of life
- Greater seclusion from the world
- Silence
- Manual labor
The ‘Cistercians were critical of Cluny’s’ what?
- Wealth
- Large and ornate church
- Elaboration of the liturgy
- Easy life with serfs to do the work for him
‘The great expansion of the Cistercians n the twelfth century was primarily due to’ whose influence?
•Bernard of Clairvaux
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?
•The fact that he could promote a crusade – while still being a person who taught so eloquently about love & practiced deep piety
did mendicant vows of poverty differ from the vows of poverty taken by earlier monks?
• Mendicant monks sought to impose poverty on their communities as well as on individual monks
What are ‘the activities that became characteristic of Dominicans’?
- Preaching
- Care of souls
- Missions
- Combating heresy
- Training in theology
Who ‘was the first woman to write a rule approved by the papacy (1253)’?
• Saint Clare
To what were ‘the friars… not bound’?
- To the old requirement of stability – or staying in one monastic location
- The purpose was to bring the Christian message to the people
What was the basis for Antony’s decision to give ‘the possessions of his forefathers to the villagers’?
To be like the apostles in scripture
What, according to Athanasius, was the state of the monastic movement at the time of Antony’s determination to devote himself to discipline?
There were just a few hermits living in the dessert alone a this time
What passage from scripture does Athanasius use in VA 7 to explain Antony’s increasing asceticism after his defeat of the devil?
Romans viii 3-4
Which book of scripture is quoted the most in the prologue of Rule of Benedict?
Psalms
According to Benedict, ‘in drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down’ what?
Nothing harsh or burdensome
What are the four kinds of monks that Benedict identifies?
- 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
According to Benedict, the abbot ‘is believed to hold the place of (whom) in the monastery’?
Christ
What is ‘the first step of humility… which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all’?
Unhesitating obedience
Where will the monk arrive after ascending the twelve steps of humility?
Perfect love of God which casts out fear
What are some ways in which the Rule advises moderation?
Moderate consumption of wine
Reasonable to arise after digestion
Fruits and vegetables are permitted during fasting
What are the three factors that determine rank in the monastery, according to Benedict?
Date of their entry, virtue of their life, decision of the abbot
What is the process and what are the criteria for choosing an abbot, according to RB 64?
Selected by the entire community unanimously, OR a part of the community no matter how small; Criteria = goodness of life and wisdom in teaching
What is Asceticism?
- defining feature of the monastic movement
- askesis: “exercise” or “training”
What are the three rough categories of ascetic practices?
communion with god, disciplined or righteous behavior, reparation of ruptures with God caused by failing to behave correctly
What are the two ESSENTIAL practices of asceticism?
1- Exercise of disciplined effort;
2- abstention from an otherwise permitted earthly desire
Monasticism is a practice which involves the positive exercise of disciplined effort and is motivated by one of the three ideals ___, ____, and ____.
communion with God
disciplined behavior
reparation of ruptures with God.
What was the earliest document depicting monastic life, particularly withdrawal from society?
Life of Antony by Athanasius
Antony was the first to practice anachoresis or “withdrawal” - Why did he withdraw?
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
Who were the key players in Medieval Monasticism?
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
Who were the mendicants?
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
