Monasticism Flashcards

1
Q

Define asceticism, including a basic definition, the three religions ends/ideals, and the two dimensions of ascetic practices.

A
  • In monasticism, asceticism was the dominant way of life and defining feature of monastic life. Asceticism involves three religious ends/ideals.
    1. Fellowship with God,
    2. Disciplined, correct moral behavior,
    3. Reparation of ruptures with God caused by failing to behave correctly.
  • Two dimensions of ascetic practices are
    1. exercise of disciplined effort, and
    2. abstention from an otherwise permitted earthly desire.
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2
Q

Describe the origins of the monastic movement.

A
  • The very first monastics lived in ones or twos in villages or on their edges.
  • They worshipped in church and had an integral role in churches and in Christian communities, a la Anthony.
  • They were set apart from but not removed from (and were therefore still involved in) church and community.
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3
Q

In what way was Anthony a pioneer of monasticism?

A

Anthony was not the first solitary, but he was the first monk to leave society behind altogether, the first to practice anachoresis, or withdrawal.

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4
Q

What motivated Anthony to give all his possessions to the villagers?

A

Anthony was inspired by scripture, particularly Matt. 19 & 6 & 1 Cor. 9:27, to take on full anachoresis as a personal response to scripture.

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5
Q

What were the three types of anachoresis/Egyptian monasticism and who were their inspirations?

A
  1. Eremetic life (hermits)- inspired by Anthony the first anchorite, eremetic life involves individual monks living in isolation and focusing on prayer and meditation on their own;
  2. Coenobitic life (communal living)- inspired by Pachomius, who was the first to construct a separate world for monks, coenobites lived together in community to make basics accessible opening more time for spiritual disciplines;
  3. Semi-eremetic life (cells)- inspired by Ammun and Evagrius of Pontius (the father of Byzantine monasticism and focused on the psychological dimension of religious life, inspiring today’s concept of the seven deadly sins by his description of the 8 evil thoughts), semi-eremetic life was an intermediate form of community involving loosely grouped individuals under one spiritual leader, gathering together for worship and Eucharist, having one common building but also individual huts.
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6
Q

What are the two things you need to know about John Cassian?

A
  1. He brought a moderate form of Egyptian asceticism to Europe.
  2. He argued for a progression from communal to eremetic living, in that as a monk became more advanced in disciplined life, the closer to eremetic living that monk could become.
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7
Q

What three things do you need to know about Benedict of Nursia?

A
  1. He is the father of Western monasticism; he was influenced by Basil of Caesaria and John Cassian.
  2. His most important contribution to monasticism was the Rule of Benedict.
  3. The most important feature of the Rule of Benedict is its flexibility.
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8
Q

What are the three Benedictine vows?

A
  1. Stability- remain at one monastery rather than monastery-hopping
  2. Fidelity to monastic life- integrity, moderation
  3. Obedience- specifically allegiance to the Abbott/Abbess
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9
Q

The Benedictine motto emphasizes what two aspects of monastic life?

A

“Ora et labora” emphasizes prayer and intense physical labor.

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10
Q

What were three types of medieval religious orders?

A
  1. Monks in monasteries- the oldest order, with Cluny inspiring the Benedictines and the Cistercians trying to reform the Benedictines but creating a new order, and the nucleus of their rule was the Charter of Love
  2. Canons regular- priests who served in cathedrals or college churches, followed the rule of Augustine, did not belong to an order
  3. medicants- embraced communal poverty in response to the wealth of other communities (whereas others adopted individual poverty the orders had communal wealth, the mendicants had both individual and communal poverty). 2 important orders were the Dominicans and the Franciscans.
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