Monasticism

Question 1

What are the primary and secondary distinction of spirituality in the Middle Ages?

Answer 1

1. Clergy vs. Laity

2. Secular vs Regular Priests

Question 2

What do the laity do in the Middle Ages?

Answer 2

The laity are the baptized, who also (from Lateran IV, 1215 onward) are required to confess and take communion once a year. They are the “listening church.”

Question 3

What is the medieval understanding of the clergy in the Middle Ages?

Answer 3

The Clergy have been metaphysically endowed through their ordination with a
power that cannot be lost, the order of Melchizedek: the priest has been “ontologically” changed—Christ now shares his priesthood with the ordained priest, which enables him now to “confect” a valid sacrament, the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The laity cannot do this.

Question 4

Secular Priests

Answer 4

Secular Priests are diocesan (like priests of a parish today), minister to the world, administer the sacraments and preach the gospel. But some of them become teachers or administrators. The primary duty is pastoral, aimed at ministry of Sacrament and word (emphasis on first).

Question 5

Regular Priests

Answer 5

Regular Priests live in a community with a rule.

Question 6

What is the difference between Regular priests at the beginning of the Middle Ages and the end?

Answer 6

They started off as lay people who wanted to join a community, but evolved through the centuries. In the early Middle Ages monks like Benedictines were mostly lay persons with perhaps some ordained priests also part of the community. But as time went on, the theology of ordination and of monasticism inclined to view the monastic vow itself as a branch within the clerical order; hence they are included here. It is also important to remember that before their dominance from the 9th -11th centuries, there were other types of monastic rules and foundations, such as the Celtic monasteries in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Britain, and various foundations in Europe from Celtic missionaries. Most of these eventually took over the Rule of Benedict.

Question 7

O.S.B.

Answer 7

Ordo Sancti Benedicti = “Order of Saint Benedict”

Question 8

What are the three different types of Regular Priests?

Answer 8

1. Monks
2. Canons regular
3. Friars

Question 9

Describe the life of a monk.

Answer 9

Self-supporting, pray for Christendom, live in country, no pastoral duties (usually), contemplate God, ascetic life-style. Most monks were Benedictine; they were bound to a monastery where they took vows; some were lay monks, a few became priests. There were vows of poverty and obedience (though some houses became rich). Benedictines include, among other sub-groupings, included congregations founded in the 12th century which tried to return to the original spirit of the Rule.

Question 10

What are the two different types of monks, and what do they do?

Answer 10

Carthusian (centralized—one sole abbot for all houses): stems from the foundation of the monastery of La Grande Chartreuse, which becomes the mother-house of all the Carthusian monasteries.

Cistercians (decentralized—each house had their own abbot, but with visitation oversight by hierarchy of houses). Named after the first monastery in Citeux in central France. They lived lives of perpetual penance situated out in the country. The Cistercians also had lay brothers who lived and worked at the Monastery, though without the formal procedure of vows, etc. But they were still considered part of the monastery. Most exemplary Cistercian: Bernard of Clairvaux.

Question 11

Who is the most exemplary Cistercian?

Answer 11

Bernard of Clairvaux

Question 12

Canons regular

Answer 12

Men who lived in a community because of their position, not because of a vow. They were found especially in the clergy who staffed the Cathedral and the collegiate churches.The title is a bit redundant: “canon” is a rule, and “regular” means living according to a rule.] Quasi-monastic order with pastoral responsibilities; sometimes composed of friars (see below), sometimes of secular clergy who live in a compound associated with a church building and live according to “the rule of Saint Augustine.” Hardest group to define.

Question 13

What was the leadership like in the cathedral?

Answer 13

Under the bishop the Dean of the Cathedral would be in charge of the Canons, and would have the most prestigious position, being in charge of worship; the Archdeacon would be the most powerful, being the “eye of the bishop,” supervising the parish.

Question 14

Friars

Answer 14

Found from end of 12th century onward. They live in the town/city, “mendicant orders” (i.e., Latin mendicare = to beg: they beg for their support, much like modern pastors) and not self-supporting (hence, the Friars are sometimes called “mendicants”).

Question 15

mendicant, or mendicare

Answer 15

to beg

Question 16

What pastoral duties did friars have?

Answer 16

1. preaching, 2. teaching, & 3. living the apostolic life. The emphasis is on the Word over sacrament, supplementing local clergy. They soon became prominent university teachers. The friars were founded to counteract the popular heretical movements aiming at apostolic lifestyles (they functioned in response as well to the local clergy’s common inability to preach or teach well). The friars were thus to set an example to the people, especially in the burgeoning urban areas.

Question 17

What was the friar motto?

Answer 17

Their motto: “Naked following the naked Christ.”

Question 18

What are the four types of friars?

Answer 18

1. Carmelites
2. Dominicans
3. Franciscans
4. Augustinians

Question 19

Carmelites

Answer 19

(O. Carm.; founded in 1154 on Mount Carmel in the Holy
Land). The “White Friars,” not numerous, stress on asceticism, even rooted in the hermit tradition; not big on preaching or teaching; when revived in 16th century would become influential through the mystics Theresa of Avila and John of the Cross.

Question 20

Dominicans

Answer 20

(O.P.–Ordo Praedicatorum; “Order of Preachers”; founded 1216, by the Spaniard Dominic). The “Black Friars”, founded as a preaching/learned order to counteract heresy and teach. Later Dominicans were known both as inquisitors and as spiritual advisors to a number of women’s convents, especially to women of mystical bent. Most famous Dominicans: Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, and Meister Eckhert.

Question 21

Franciscans

Answer 21

(O.F.M–Ordo Fratorum minorum; “Order of Friars Minor”, i.e., of “lesser brothers”; founded 1209 by the Italian Francis of Assisi). The “Grey Friars”, dedicated to poverty and the apostolic lifestyle, though later became great teachers. There were also a women’s order, named after Francis’ associate, Clare (thus called the “Clares”). There was further a third order of lay participants, known as the “tertiary order,” who weren’t bound by a rule but led a quasi-monastic lifestyle in the world, often devoted to service. Most famous Franciscans (after Francis): Bonaventura, Duns Scotus, William of Ockham.

Question 22

Augustinians

Answer 22

(O.E.S.A.–Ordo Eremitorum Sancti Augustini; “Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine”; founded 1256). The “Austin Friars.” They had hermits, but also became a learned order. Most (in-)famous Augustinian monk: Martin Luther.

Question 23

Each of the four order of friars further developed into two branches. What were they?

Answer 23

Conventual—modified traditionalists, where the “rule” has been
mitigated in austerity. Often called Calsed (“wore shoes”).

Observant—strict traditionalists, no mitigation of original rule.
Usually discalsed (barefoot).

Question 24

Who was the most famous Augustinian monk?

Answer 24

Martin Luther

Question 25

Name the four most famous Franciscans in the Middle Ages.

Answer 25

1. Francis
2. Bonaventura
3. Scotus
4. William of Ockham

Question 26

When and where was Francis born?

Answer 26

1181 or 1182, in Assisi. He was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant.

Question 27

Who did Francis take as his bride?

Answer 27

Lady poverty

Question 28

When did Francis write his first rule?

Answer 28

1209. His second rule came in 1221.

Question 29

According to Francis, what were the three things that Franciscans did?

Answer 29

Poverty, itinerant preaching, and manual labor.

Question 30

What is the main thing that Bonaventura did that made him different from Francis?

Answer 30

He didn’t believe in full poverty, and he switched scholarship and meditation for manual labor. It made the Franciscans more like other order, bound to a house instead of being missionaries out in the field. These Franciscans were more educated than the first generation.