What You Need To Know About The Church

What You Need To KnowAbout The Church

Three Parts of Society

1. Nobility2. The Church3. Everybody Else

The Monastery (aka The Abbey)

Each monastery endeavored to form an independent, self-supporting community whose monks had no need of going beyond its limits for anything.

In course of time, as a monastery increased in wealth and number of inmates, it might come to form an enormous establishment, covering many acres and presenting within its massive walls the appearance of a fortified town.

Titles in the Church

Pope: Head of the church, he is based at the Vatican. Cardinal: advisors to the popeArch Bishop: Oversees bishopsBishop: A bishop, like a priest, is ordained to this

station. He is a teacher of church doctrine, a priest of sacred worship, and a minister of church government.

Abbot: head of the monasteryPrior: runs the monastery in the abbot’s absenceDean: supervises monksMonk: the other guys—each had a job

Monk appearance

Tonsure: clean shaven, except for a narrow strip around the head.

Monk for lifeStrict disciplineCould not leave the

monastery without permission

Why Become a Monk?

To devote their lives to serving GodTo live a life in a secure retreatTo escape from a violent worldTo lead a quiet and peaceful life

VOWS

Monks took the following vows: A) the vow of poverty B) the vow of chastity C) the vow of obedience

The Monastery

Life in the Monastery

Washing and cookingFarming/gathering foodProducing wine, ale, and honeyProviding medical care for the communityProviding educationCopying manuscriptsProviding hospitality for pilgrims (travelers)

Monastery Titles/Positions

Abbot - the head of an abbeyAlmoner - dispensed alms to the poor

and sickBarber Surgeon - the monk who shaved

the faces and tonsures of the monks and performed light surgery

Cantor - leads the choirCellarer - the cellarer was the monk who

supervised the general provisioning of the monastery (keeps up with inventory)

Infirmarian - the monk in charge of the infirmary

Lector - reads the lessons in church or in the refectory.

Sacrist - responsible for the safekeeping of books, vestments and vessels, and for the maintenance of the monastery's buildings

Prior - in charge under the abbot

Daily Life in the Monastery

Matins : 2 am Lauds : 5 amPrime : 6 am Terce : 9 amSext : noonNones : 3 pmVespers : 4 – 5 pmCompline : the last services, recited before

retiring (6pm)All work stops, and you go to prayer time

Rooms in a Monastery

Cellarium: storeroomChapter-house: meeting roomGarderobe: bathroomGranary: place to store grainInfirmary: hospitalLavatorium: room with running water for

washingRefectory: dining hallSacristy: where the sacred stuff is kept