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Home , Augustinians, Benedict of Nursia, Carmelites, Carthusians, Cistercians, Trappists

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THE MONASTIC RESCUE OF THE CHURCH

Refer to 2000 year timeline: How was Christian orthodoxy preserved and saved from total control by state politics, worldly corruption, wealthy influence and the rise of powerful ?

Monasteries emerged as places of pious worship, , scholarship, service to the poor and outreach. Without them much would have been lost entirely!

The Fall of : In 410 AD Alaric the Visigoth sacked Rome. Happened again by Vandals in 455 AD. In 476 AD the last official emperor in the west, Romulus Augustus, was removed.

How could an ordinary pious Christian find a way of life based on the Bible and given to prayer?

Monastic = from “monos”; meaning one, or solitary.

Early Monastic Leaders or Models

St. Anthony, in Egypt, ca. 270 AD. life of prayer in Egyptian Desert.

Symeon Stylites (390-459 AD): a hermit in area of Antioch. Built a small abode atop a pole, where he lived for decades, with all life necessities pulled up in a bucket.

St. (342-420 AD)

St.

Benedict of Nursia (480-550 AD): composed his “Rule” for monastic life – a detailed manual giving both ideals and practical principles to regulate a community of faith – used by many other orders. “Prayer is work; and work is prayer.”

Monastic Rescue of Manuscripts and Learning: (Pictures of ‘Art of the ’)

Realize that in these early days there were really no universities or organized schools at any level. The rest of society was too much in chaos to be bothered with the tedious and careful work of scholarship and . Modern author, Thomas Cahill wrote How the Irish Saved Civilization.

Monasteries in Britain and

St. Patrick (390-460 AD) in Ireland

Columba (521-597 AD) at Iona, spread the faith into

Aiden, at Lindisfarne, produced the “Lindisfarne ”, a famous of all four gospels

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Later Monastic Orders Founded

Augustinians – Luther! ; Dominicans; ; ; ; ; ; and many others. For the sake of time, we’re not mentioning the many convents for . There were some great women leaders such as Hildegard, Bridged, .

Analysis of Monastic Accomplishments:

 Provided social centers of order, fellowship and self-discipline in the midst of chaotic social changes.  Provided safe havens for various refugees; usually respected by marauders.  Taught a humble life of Bible study, prayer and regulated worship; emphasis on self-sacrifice, obedience to authority.  Strong contribution to preservation of Scripture documents, plus doctrinal books and classic literature.  Development of music: , etc.  Some examples of reactions against unbiblical doctrines from Rome – certain early efforts well before the at church reform and doctrinal purity.  Centers for education established; some led to great universities.  of monasteries were generally more doctrinally and spiritually conservative than many of the magisterial bishops who ruled in cities.  Care for the sick; some led to establishment of early hospitals.  Care for the poor in an age of no social services available; also many orphanages.  Business models and farming of monasteries became models for early forms of industry and capitalism: vineyards, bakeries, textiles, some manufacturing.

Negative Issues:

 Celibacy was often exalted beyond proper Biblical teaching.  Tendency toward an extreme emphasis on subduing “the flesh”; teaching that all sex is evil.  In the emphasis on hard work, there sometimes was an imbalance leading to notions of by works, not grace.  At times leadership could be harsh or extreme in demands made. Some abbots even became rich by abuse of monastic finances.  Idea of “withdrawal from the world” produced a false division between the ‘religious’ and normal secular life. Idea prevalent that calling as a or was a ‘higher’ vocation than secular careers.

CONCLUSION: “After Christ’s commission to his disciples, the rise of was the most important and in many ways most beneficial institution in the history of .” Dr. Mark Noll