Monasticism

Solitude as a Way of Discipleship: “A Response to an Empire in Chaos…”

“Follow me…”: A Quest for Holiness Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom as “a

pearl of great price”For some, the deepening relationship with

Jesus brings a desire to follow Him more closely

The same desire to be ready to witness with one’s life if called to do so

3rd and 4th Century ChristiansGrowth of Christianity

throughout the Empire Outside of persecutions:

◦How hard is it to be a Christian? Not very

◦Wanting to be ready should persecution arise again

◦Find truth and meaning

AscesisAn athlete’s “discipline”Strict self-discipline or self-

control, as for religious or meditative purposes

Self-discipline for the body to serve a higher purpose

A response to the easier lifestyles/business of the world, available to Christians during times of peace

SolitudeImitating Jesus and Moses…

“longing to be Christ-like” Seeking God in solitudeTo confront who they were in the

face of God...

The Early Monastics“monos” = “alone” or “single”

Yet, not really!◦The desire for solitude is a desire to seek God in the depths of the heart

◦The early “Desert Fathers” would be sought out as spiritual guides

Prayer, fasting, ascesisTemptations and distractions?

More ascesis!

Monastic Discipleship… “purity of heart!”“ a personal relationship with

Jesus” via Solitude“ a commitment to live His

message” via Ascesis…“support of a community” via the

one-on-one support the desert fathers offered as spiritual guides

Thomas Merton: (Koch page 75)

Antony of Egypt (270 C.E.)Remember Luke 18:22 (read in

class)Longing to be more authentically

ChristlikeThe Clergy were given prestige

and power in the 3rd CenturyMonastic Lifestyle in the Wilderness =

“a way of rejecting a complacent and soft Christianity”

Antony of Egypt (270 C.E.)The “father of Monasticism”Both parents died at 18…thought about Luke

18 (sign from God)…have we heard this before??

Learned about Virtue and DisciplineKnown as “God-loved”, “son,” and

“brother”…

“Love as the Fruit of Prayer”Look to “Lumen Gentium, Chapter 5”Love, Charity, Holiness,

Perseverance, Working for a Purpose…

The main focus of the monastic was CONTEMPLATION = silently present to the loving God

“Love as the Fruit of Prayer” Continued…

In finding God, they would find love as well = because God is love!

Leads to Hospitality = care for the poor and the sick becomes a central component in monastic life…and thus leads to a more communal way of living.

Basil’s Rule for Communal Monastic life…4th Century

Individual monks may become too obsessed with the harsh practices to rid themselves of demons…

4th Century – Basil creates a rule for monks to follow within the community

To Note: Basil studied to be a teacher in Constantinople/Athens; then became a hermit in Cappadocia.

Basil’s Rule…4th CenturyStressed

“Simple Living:”◦Seek God in their

hearts, through prayer

◦Help the poor and care for the sick, through love

◦Encourage intellectual work, through study

The Danger of the DesertOn your own, it’s easy to confuse the method for the goal

The goal: deepening the relationship with God! (and thus transforming the inner self…)

The danger of the solitary ascetic was to try to control not just his/her body but the relationship through more and more discipline

Gregory the Great (540-604 CE)Inspired by Benedict's example =

wanted to be a simple monkHere’s what God desired:

◦His father dies, he sells off most of the family’s holdings and establishes a monastery

◦At Constantinople = recognized corruption!

◦The Pope dies and he’s elected Pope

Servant of the Servants of GodGregory always

signed his letters this way

His energy for leadership was an energy for service, and came from the monastic desires in his heart

Pope Gregory I

He hides, hoping they change their minds

He gives in, and carries out his responsibilities with great energy:

1. Friend of the Poor2. Church Educator3. Liturgical Music Innovator4. Diplomat

Gregory the GreatFriend of the

Poor:◦ Church was one of

the only welfare agencies

◦ Using profits from farms owned by the church, fed many poor people

◦ Helped rebuild crumbling churches

◦ Helped rebuild walls of Rome

Gregory the GreatChurch

Educator:◦ Poorly educated

clergy…◦ Encouraged

bishops to open schools for men wanting to become priests

◦ Church schools/monastery schools were the ONLY sources of education for the laity!

Gregory the GreatLiturgical Music

Innovator:◦ Called for

organized/written forms of music for liturgies

Gregory developed a specific type of Music for the liturgy, which became known as the Gregorian Chant

Gregory the GreatDiplomat:

◦ He sent missionaries to barbarian tribes to try and convert them/make alliances with them, instead of resisting and fighting…

In the big picture, Gregory the Great was a smart diplomat because his tolerance of the barbarians and sending of missionaries would eventually lead to Europe being solidly Christian

Charlemagne (aka “Charles the Great”)Powerful general

and kingA bit too violent…But he values the

work of monks in education, and thus encouraged building Benedictine monasteries throughout the empire.

A Need For Reform… Feudalism = bishops and

abbots of monasteries were often powerful lords of feudal estates…

Often served as government officials

Concern for the land led to bishops and abbots not being especially concerned with preaching the Gospel

Church = largest landowner in Europe!!

Rich men could buy the office of Bishop!?

King (then)… Higher Lord (then)… Landlord (then)… Serf (lowest)

Concern for the poor?

No more monks working in the fields??

Is Feudalism a good thing…?

The Reforms at Cluny 910 CE: William of

Aquitaine founds a new monastery at Cluny with an unusual charter◦ The monks could select

their abbot with no interference

◦ The only authority over the abbot would be the Pope

◦ Lived simply, prayed, gave food to the poor,

◦ A return to Benedict’s vision makes Cluny a place of spiritual formation

◦ This idea spreads! Free from feudalism!!

Impact on Other Church Offices…1073: Gregory VII, called

Hildebrand…“Lay investiture” develops where

the feudal lord gives his new vassal (bishop or abbot) the signs of his authority

The practice of lay investiture is resolved by the Concordat of Worms in 1122.

Impact on Papal Elections…1059: College

of Cardinals = bishops declare the election of a pope is a strictly internal matter: group of bishops alone elect the pope.

Contributions of MonasticismTo the Church

◦School of prayer◦Place of priestly formation (Cluny)

Communal Contribution…To society

◦Stability during the “dark ages”◦Place of education◦Agricultural advances