Abbot

During this time in England the rise of Burys or Boroughs, this was land given by the King to monasteries. These pieces of land were exempt from the sheriff and bishop of the jurisdiction, giving a good amount of power to the abbot of the monastery (Jordan, 188-193). From 1173 till 1202, a monk named Jocelin of Brakelond recorded different events in his monastery in St. Edmunds, England. His work was later published as Chronicle of the Abbey of Bury St. Edmund. Jocelin discusses how the former subsacrist, Samson, becomes the new abbot, and his interactions with the king as well as the townspeople in the Bury of St. Edmunds. Jocelin’s writings allows us to understand and imagine what daily life in a monastery and the social structure at the time was like compared to what it was supposed to be like according to kings and laws. Jocelin, who becomes Samson’s chaplain, describes the obligations and privileges of both Abbot Samson and his tenants, as well as the tension between the two…

Traditionally, monastic rules were written to regulate the lives of monks living in a coenobium (community). The kind of monks that live in communities are called cenobites which are the focus of RB. Their regulation is its purpose. To clarify why RB is written for cenobites, Benedict discusses four types of monks with descriptions of each. The four kinds of monks being: the cenobites, that is those who belong to a monastery, where they serve under a rule and an abbot; anchorites (or…

as if he does not recognize me, his faithful Abbot. “Old man I do not know you or why you dress like that, but I hope you do not get into trouble.” As he says this I think to myself “old man” I am not that old. Suddenly I become aware of my appearance. My hair is white, thin, and flowing past my torso, my robes are covered in dust and holes. I look down and wonder how the wrinkly, weak hands I was looking at had ever gotten anything done. I catch a glance at myself in a puddle, my face…

be aware that we are in God’s presence and as a result avoid sin. This suggests a highly negative view of humanity since it implies that humans act morally and avoid sinning solely out of self-interest. I hold a much more positive view of humanity and believe that humans are generally moral and do not actively and intentionally sin. An important part of this fear of step one and acting out of fear of God is following a set of very defined rules. For example, Benedict defines the monks diet when…

On the other hand St Benedict condemns those people who make others laugh especially if what they are saying in order for others to laugh is related to joking and the use of inappropriate words. Therefore he urged people to refrain from such activities and rather practice wise listening. The heavy amount of work emphasized seems grueling. Manual labor daily even when I grow old would be harsh. Continual obedience to my abbot and other superiors would be hard when I don't agree with them. He…

The Rule of Saint Benedict is a book of precepts written by Benedict of Nursia for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot, specifically those in the monastery he founded at Monte Cassino. A rule itself provides stability of community, encourages self-sufficiency and combines spirituality with practicality. In the case of the Benedictine Rule, this path between the pursuit of spiritual growth and the earthly needs of the monks is far more moderate than previously seen. Individual…

The Autobiography of Guibert: Abbot of Nogent-sous-Coucy is divided into three separate books, each book conveying a different concept. The first book consists of Gibert life from youth to adulthood, in addition to a conversation with God throughout the chapters. The second book consists of history of the monastery that he lived in. The third book gives a detail description of the uprising near Laon. Guibert structured his autobiography so each book would convey a different aspect of life while…

Abbot Suger of Saint Denis, inspired by what he though were the writings of Saint Denis, designed and built a choir filled with radiance. Believing that light was the presence of Divine Spirit, Suger’s new choir was filled with light. Saint Denis Abbey’s newly designed choir would herald a revolution in architecture which would ripple throughout the culture of Christendom. The Italians would call the style Gothic. Gothic, meant as a slight, was so named to suggest that the culture of Christendom…

Abbot Benedict (Abbot): Greetings my child, may the good Lord continue to keep you. Can: Amen. Father, as you are already aware I will be taking my vows in three months. I have read your Rules cover to cover but my heart still worries that I know little. Please father, take time out of your readings to guide one of your lost sheep. Abbot: Don’t be troubled my son as the Lord says "Cast all your anxiety on Him, because he cares for you."(1 Peter 5:7) As so cast your anxiety upon me and let me…

Benedictine Rule was the basis of life, and it was “kept exactly in all essentials” (vii). In addition, during this time of the revival of urban life, monasteries were being built in or around cities, and as a result, they became “and integral part of social life of the country” (xiv). After the Norman invasion of 1066, Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, decided with William, Abbot of Dijon, to “look critically upon the old English monasteries” in order to reform them after the Norman model…