MonasticismMonasticism

Mr. Pablo CuadraReligion Class

What is the meaning of What is the meaning of the word monk?the word monk?

The word monk The word monk comes from the comes from the Greek Greek “monachos”“monachos”

A term that means:A term that means:

solitarysolitary, one living , one living alone.alone.

Who is the founder of Who is the founder of Christian monasticism?Christian monasticism?

The tradition of The tradition of monastic life goes monastic life goes back to back to St. Anthony St. Anthony the Greatthe Great (251-356) (251-356) in in EgyptEgypt..

Who is a monk?Who is a monk?

A person who A person who practices religious practices religious asceticismasceticism. .

What is the meaning of What is the meaning of the word asceticism?the word asceticism?

A. Asceticism is the A. Asceticism is the conditioningconditioning of of mindmind and and bodybody in favor of in favor of the the spiritspirit..

B. Ex: A football B. Ex: A football player player devotiondevotion to to his or her game his or her game through through rigorous rigorous training.training.

Where does the concept of Where does the concept of monasticism come from?monasticism come from?

A. Monastic lifeA. Monastic life has roots in has roots in the the Old TestamentOld Testament and and New New TestamentTestament..

B. ProphetsB. Prophets like like EliasElias and and John the BaptistJohn the Baptist both lived both lived alone in the desert living a life alone in the desert living a life of of prayerprayer and and sacrifice for sacrifice for GodGod..

C. Jesus also C. Jesus also went awaywent away to to the the desertdesert to to praypray and find and find spiritual strength. spiritual strength.

How did monastic life How did monastic life develop?develop?

A. A. St. AnthonySt. Anthony began began the tradition in the the tradition in the 33rdrd century.century.

B. He lived alone in the B. He lived alone in the Egyptian desert as an Egyptian desert as an anchoriteanchorite..

C. He attracted a group C. He attracted a group of of followersfollowers that that imitated him in his imitated him in his spiritual pursuitspiritual pursuit..

D. St. Anthony D. St. Anthony taught taught them how to pursuit God them how to pursuit God in in solitudesolitude..

E. More joined in E. More joined in attracted by the attracted by the holinessholiness of St. Anthony. of St. Anthony.

F. Gradually they formed F. Gradually they formed small small communities,communities, coming together only on coming together only on SundaysSundays and and special special holidays. holidays.

Who developed the practice Who developed the practice of life in communities?of life in communities?

MonksMonks living together living together under one roof and one under one roof and one rulerule is attributed to is attributed to St. St. PachomiosPachomios (292-348). (292-348).

This tradition grew in the This tradition grew in the Eastern Roman empireEastern Roman empire. .

Monasteries housed an Monasteries housed an average of average of 30,00030,000 monks.monks.

Who was St. Basil the Who was St. Basil the Great?Great?

St. Basil the GreatSt. Basil the Great was the was the firstfirst to to establish establish clear clear rulesrules for monks on for monks on how to how to live the live the monastic monastic lifelife..

Who were John Cassian Who were John Cassian and St Benedict?and St Benedict?

They are the They are the fathersfathers of monastic life in the of monastic life in the Western church.Western church.

What are some of the What are some of the characteristics of monastic characteristics of monastic living?living?

A. Monks A. Monks separate separate themselves from the themselves from the worldworld in in order to order to pray for the worldpray for the world..

B. Monks are concerned with B. Monks are concerned with “Theosis“Theosis” or ” or union with Godunion with God..

C. Monks are C. Monks are self-self-supporting.supporting.

D. A monk’s life is dived into D. A monk’s life is dived into three parts:three parts: worshipworship, , manual manual laborlabor, and , and private studyprivate study, , prayer and rest.prayer and rest.

E. Meals are eaten in E. Meals are eaten in commoncommon while listening to while listening to the scriptures.the scriptures.

F. Most of the monk’s F. Most of the monk’s activities are done in activities are done in silencesilence..

G. Monks practice self-G. Monks practice self-discipline, poverty, and prayerdiscipline, poverty, and prayer

What are the three types of What are the three types of monastic living in the Eastern monastic living in the Eastern and Orthodox Churches?and Orthodox Churches?

A. A. AnchoritesAnchorites or or hermits (living in hermits (living in isolation).isolation).

B. B. CoenobiticCoenobitic (living (living in community)in community)

C. C. SketeSkete ( a mixture ( a mixture of solitary living and of solitary living and community).community).

What are the degrees of What are the degrees of monastic life in the East?monastic life in the East?

A. A. NovitiateNovitiate (one under (one under obedience)obedience)

B. B. RassaphoreRassaphore (robe-bearer) (robe-bearer) Wears a black robe with wide Wears a black robe with wide sleeves and a belt signifying sleeves and a belt signifying death to the world.death to the world.

C. C. StavrophoreStavrophore (cross- (cross-bearer) or little schema. The bearer) or little schema. The monk makes his first formal monk makes his first formal vows or promises. He is given vows or promises. He is given a cross and a candle that will a cross and a candle that will be use at his funeral.be use at his funeral.

D. D. Great SchemaGreat Schema (the (the highest level of spiritual highest level of spiritual excellence)excellence)

Monks receive the Great Monks receive the Great schema a scapular with the schema a scapular with the instruments of the instruments of the Passion Passion and and TrisagionTrisagion. .

This stage is given This stage is given only after only after 25 years of service25 years of service or at or at deathbed. deathbed.

How are monks How are monks addressed?addressed?

Monks are addressed as Monks are addressed as “Fathers” even if they are not “Fathers” even if they are not priests.priests.

Monks can be Monks can be priests,priests, deaconsdeacons, , bishopsbishops or or brothers.brothers.

In the In the Eastern ChurchEastern Church bishops are selected from the bishops are selected from the ranks of monks.ranks of monks.

SeminariesSeminaries are usually are usually attached to a attached to a monasterymonastery to to teach students preparing for teach students preparing for priesthoodpriesthood the benefits of the benefits of the the spiritual life. spiritual life.

What is a monastery?What is a monastery?

A. A monastery is the A. A monastery is the placeplace where where monksmonks or or nunsnuns live in live in communitycommunity..

B. The head of the B. The head of the monastery is the monastery is the “Abbott”“Abbott” or father. or father.

AbbotAbbot

The spiritual Father of the The spiritual Father of the Monastery.Monastery.

The abbot is elected by the The abbot is elected by the monksmonks

The abbot is blessed by the The abbot is blessed by the Bishop.Bishop.

Abbots received Episcopal Abbots received Episcopal insignias (Mitre, ring, crosier, insignias (Mitre, ring, crosier, pectoral cross)pectoral cross)

Abbots can confer the Abbots can confer the ministries of acolyte and ministries of acolyte and lector.lector.

Abbots have spiritual Abbots have spiritual jurisdiction over their jurisdiction over their monastery.monastery.

Roman Catholic Monks Roman Catholic Monks (Western Church)(Western Church)

A. Follow the A. Follow the Rule Rule of of St. St. Benedict of NursiaBenedict of Nursia..

B. Profess B. Profess three vowsthree vows or or promises: promises: obedience, obedience, Stability and Conversion of Stability and Conversion of Life (Conversatio Morum).Life (Conversatio Morum).

C. To become a monk one C. To become a monk one must first be an oblate or must first be an oblate or novicenovice..

D. Monks live in a D. Monks live in a monastery monastery with other monks.with other monks.

E. Monks wear a plain brown E. Monks wear a plain brown or black cape and a cross.or black cape and a cross.

F. Conversion of Life or F. Conversion of Life or fidelity to the monastic life fidelity to the monastic life includes a commitment to includes a commitment to poverty and chastity.poverty and chastity.

G. The life of the monk is G. The life of the monk is marked by prayer and manual marked by prayer and manual labor (Ora et Labora).labor (Ora et Labora).

H. The monks’ prayer is H. The monks’ prayer is rooted in the tradition of the rooted in the tradition of the Liturgy of the hours. The call Liturgy of the hours. The call to pray without ceasing.to pray without ceasing.

The EndThe End