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