Oblates Newsletter for Oblates of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana October 2013 But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing “with the inexpressible Sister Anita Louise Lowe gave her presentation “An Overview of Benedict and Scholastica,” at delight of love. the September Oblate meeting. —Rule of St. Benedict An Overview of Benedict and Scholastica Prologue, v. 49 By Sister Anita Louise Lowe Benedict and Scholastica Before we begin to study the Rule of Benedict, it is important to look at the person of Benedict — who he was and the culture in which he lived. With this knowledge in hand, we will be better equipped to understand the Rule and to interpret it for our own time and circumstances. Much of this information I learned during an intensive study of the Rule of Benedict with Sister Aquinata Böckmann. Sister Aquinata is considered a world renowned scholar on the Rule of Benedict, ” and many of us attending the two month program thought that we were sitting at the feet of the master, listening to years of study and scholarship. In addition, we’ll look at some of the stories as found in the Dialogues of Gregory the Great. Earthing Benedict and Scholastica Benedict was born in the year 480 in the town of Norcia, north of Rome, and he died at Monte Cassino, located south of Rome, in 547. At the time of Benedict’s birth, the Roman Empire was in a period of decline, a decline that started about 100 years earlier with the invasion of the Goths into Italy. Rome was attacked in the year 410 by the Vandels who came from the South, and the city was sacked in 455. Rome was sacked three times during Benedict’s lifetime. A period of peace occurred from 493 to 526 under the occupation of the Osteogoths. However, in 527, Justinian, the emperor of Byzanz (the eastern Monastery Immaculate Conception capital of the Roman Empire — later known as Constantinople) wanted Rome back 802 E. 10th Street for the East. War broke out in the year 535 and continued through 553, six years Ferdinand, Indiana 47532-9239 812-367-1411, ext. 2827/2829 after Benedict’s death. www.thedome.org/oblates This knowledge alone helps us understand the desire expressed in the Rule for [email protected] peace, good order, and structure. Benedict sought peace, not just within oneself, but Oblates Newsletter Page 2 within the community and for the product. The Italians are flexible world. This history also helps us in their giving of laws. Laws are in dealing with instances in which ideals to be striven for and always Benedict uses “war” vocabulary have exceptions. and talks about life as a battle. The people of Benedict’s day These images would have been calculated time differently than particularly poignant for the monks we do today. Every day — from of Benedict’s day. sunrise to sunset — was composed Because of the war and political of 12 hours. And every night was unrest, Benedict’s monasteries were composed of 12 hours. These poor, and the monks often had to hours were of equal length; work in the fields. This affected how however, the season of the year they lived and prayed. In a time of affected how long an hour actually war there was also a need to receive was. During the summer when the the sick, the poor, and the pilgrim. day is long, the hours were longer Travel was perilous, and wars — perhaps 75 minutes. In the brought pestilence, destruction, and winter, the days are shorter, and, devastation. therefore, the hours were shorter Looking at the time of Benedict This depiction of St. Benedict’s last visit with St. — probably about 45 minutes. we notice that there is a stringent Scholastica was painted by Sister Gregory Ems, OSB. It The relationship of the people to hangs in the monastery’s Benedictine Parlor. stratification of society with little time was quite relaxed. A few days movement between the classes. There were nine classes of may mean a couple of months. So, when Benedict calls for people in Italy at this time: the miserable, those who are the monks to rise shortly after midnight that may mean two starving; the poor, who have to work hard with their hands hours after midnight. The important task in the monastery in order to earn what is necessary for living; the slaves; the was the giving of the signal. The whole day operated serfs, those who are in bondage, bound to the earth; the according to the bell. One person was in charge of making farmers, who were despised by the upper classes; the plebes; sure that all happened as it needed to happen. craftsmen; those who worked a trade; and the aristocracy, It’s also helpful to look at what housing conditions were at who owned the land. Given this social structure, Benedict’s the time. Most villas had one entrance into a courtyard. From call for there to be no mark of distinction between members there, one entered the various rooms. The bed was used not in the monastery was revolutionary. just for sleeping but also for reclining at table and for working. The language of Rome in the first century Common The bed often was for more than one person. There were Era was both Latin and Greek. With the fall of the Roman probably three refectories — or dining areas: one for summer, Empire, the Greek language was lost. This meant that much one for winter, and one for spring and fall. Most houses of classic literature could only be read in translation. Benedict had a garden surrounding them and then a wall or hedge studied in Rome and would have learned classical Latin and surrounding the garden.This not only kept animals out of the probably copied the books of Augustine. Jerome’s translation garden but provided protection during a time of war. The of the Bible from Greek into Latin (the Vulgate) was stables were located within the walls, but the fields were located introduced gradually into Rome during this time. Benedict outside the walls. In Benedict’s Rule we’ll find his desire to would have studied three primary areas: Grammar, Rhetoric, have everything that is necessary located within the walls of the and Law. These were the topics necessary for an aristocrat to monastery, and in the dormitory, there are individual beds with obtain good administrative positions. Corporal punishment regulations about what may and may not be kept there. was a standard part of the educational system. So, we should The Gospels may tell us not to worry about what we are not be surprised to see its continued use in Benedict’s Rule. to eat, what we are to drink, and what we are to wear, but Though Benedict fled Rome, he did value education and we all know how much these three areas consume our daily stressed the need for his monks to read and study. Benedict lives. So, what were the common attitudes toward food, drink, studied law, Roman law. It’s helpful for us, as Americans who and clothing? The monks in the desert tradition only ate have inherited a British sense of law, to realize the differences raw foods. They considered cooking to be decadent. They between these two systems. Roman or Italian laws can seem ate herbs, roots, fruit, and dry bread. They only ate the food contradictory. A law is seen as a developing ideal, not an end they could grow, and they had fears that drinking alcohol , Page 3 October 2013 would cause the “sexual juices” to rise in going to the baths because they were the body. Benedict’s monks probably ate seen as a place of decadence and sexual “pulmentum.” This is a one dish meal in immorality. Benedict was prudent and which everything was cooked in the same disciplined. He allowed baths for the sick pot and had no specific taste. Benedict was and said that the young and strong need an Italian, and that meant two things: he the bath less frequently. He also called for drank wine and he loved bread. Wine and the monks to sleep lightly clothed, with a water are staple drinks of an Italian meal, light on, in individual beds, and with elders and Italians can’t imagine a meal without mixed in with the young. His prohibition bread. There was no stipulation about against laughter is actually against how much water a monk could drink, but sexual jokes or laughter against others. Benedict does limit the amount of wine per Sister Aquinata told us that this is not a day to a “hemina.” While we really don’t prohibition of laughter from the heart but know how much that is, Sister Aquinata told of laughter that is aggressive. us that probably it is the equivalent of 1/3 This painting of St. Benedict, by Sister In our attempts to situate Benedict and of a liter—about 11 ounces. Gregory Ems, hangs in the hallway Scholastica in their time and locale we Only the rich in Benedict’s time would outside of the monastic dining room. have considered the political situation, the have eaten the meat of four-footed animals. society and cultural standards, and some of Therefore, Benedict reserves this for the very sick. The poor the native customs found in Italy. We now turn to what was ate chicken and fish.