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Manual Labor: the Twelfth-Century Cistercian Ideal

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Manual Labor: the Twelfth-Century Cistercian Ideal Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 4-1984 Manual Labor: The Twelfth-Century Cistercian Ideal Dennis R. Overman Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Medieval History Commons Recommended Citation Overman, Dennis R., "Manual Labor: The Twelfth-Century Cistercian Ideal" (1984). Master's Theses. 1525. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1525 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MANUAL LABOR: THE TWELFTH-CENTURY CISTERCIAN IDEAL by Dennis R. Overman A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Department of Medieval Studies Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan April 1984 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. MANUAL LABOR: THE TWELFTH-CENTURY CISTERCIAN IDEAL Dennis R. Overman, M.A. Western Michigan University, 1984 Throughout the history of western monasticism three principal occupations were repeatedly emphasized for the monk: prayer, lectio divina (spiritual reading/meditation), and manual labor. Periodically, cultural mindsets, social structure, or even geography have produced a variation in the practice of these occupations, resulting in the dominance of one or the other, or even the disappearance of one altogether. The emergence of the Cistercian Order at the end of the eleventh century was characterized by a spirit of simplicity and austerity with a renewed emphasis on manual labor which had been a neglected element in the monastic regime in the period just prior to the Cistercians. The treatises of the prominent Cistercian authors of the twelfth century indicated a desire to return to and recapture the fervant observance of the monastic regime as lived by the Desert Fathers and earliest monastic communities, and most literally a faithfulness to the Rule of Saint Benedict. The Cistercian emphasis on manual labor was as much an attempt to respond to the popular religious needs of the twelfth century as it was an attempt to restore monasticism to its pristine form. Although Cistercian authors continued to insist upon the performance of manual labor into the thirteenth century, by the end of the twelfth century it ceased to be required of all monks in the Order. i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are several people whose support and encouragement provided me with the desire and ability to research this thesis and to whom I am deeply grateful: Reverend Thomas J. Nelson, C.M. who first introduced me to the Institute of Cistercian Studies. John R. Sommerfeldt, Ph.D., who engendered in me his enthusiasm for Cistercian Spirituality. E. Rozanne Elder, Ph.D., whose careful scholarship and personal commitment to the values of the monastic life, particularly manual labor, provided enlightening direction and critical objectivity. The monks of Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey who generously provided me with the facilities in which to write and the opportunity to experience firsthand the monastic balance of prayer, work and study. Reverend William J. Fitzgerald whose unquestioning love and support enabled me to forge ahead. John L. Overman, Jr., my father, who has always believed in me. Dennis R. Overman Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. 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When a map, drawing or chart, etc., is part of the material being photographed, a definite method of “sectioning” the material has been followed. It is customary to begin filming at the upper left hand comer of a large sheet and to continue from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. If necessary, sectioning is continued again—beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. For illustrations that cannot be satisfactorily reproduced by xerographic means, photographic prints can be purchased at additional cost and inserted into your xerographic copy. These prints are available upon request from the Dissertations Customer Services Department. 5. Some pages in any document may have indistinct print. In all cases the best available copy has been filmed. University Mfcrdrilms International 300 N. Z eeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 1323136 OVERMAN, DENNIS ROBERT MANUAL LABOR: THE TWELFTH-CENTURY CISTERCIAN IDEAL WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY M.A. 1984 University Microfilms International 300 N, Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Copyright ms4 by OVERMAN, DENNIS ROBERT All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Dennis R. Overman 1984 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................. ii POEM: "Trappists Working," by Thomas Merton ................................. v Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1 II. MANUAL LABOR: ANCIENT MONASTIC TRADITION AND RULES ....................................................................................................... 6 III. MANUAL LABOR: THE MONASTIC CLIMATE PRECEDING Citeaux ................................................................................................... 15 IV. MANUAL LABOR: THE CISTERCIAN VIEW IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY: BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE ASCETICAL LIFE .............................................................................. 37 Poverty............................................................................................................38 Solitude ................................................................................................. 45 The Apostolic Life ........................................................................... 48 Strict Adherence to the Rule of Saint Benedict ............... 58 V. MANUAL LABOR: THE CISTERCIAN VIEW IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY: THEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS....................................... 64 Avoidance of Idleness ..................................................................... 65 A Balanced Life .................................................................................. 67 The Physical Bases of SpiritualGrowth ................................. 76 Manual Labor as Mortification | Penance ...................................81 VI. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MONK IN THE MONASTERY: COUNTER-INDICATIONS ....................................................................... 88 The Rise of the Cistercian Lay-brotherhood ...................... 88 The Rise of Intellectual and Literary Work ...................... 94 The Use and Abuse of Monastic Sources ...................... 97 VII. CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................101 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APPENDICES A............................................................................................................................. 103 B...................................................................................................................... 105 C............................................................................................................................. 107 D ................. ioy ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................... Ill ENDNOTES .................................................................................................................. 113 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................
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