Early Monastic Life

The monastic life was a meager and humble existence. Monks were men who originally lived alone as hermits and eventually banded together to form tiny spiritual communities. They were twelve or more pious men who abandoned all of life’s luxuries which were said to bring “evil or impurity” to the hearts of men. Simple, somewhat redundant lives were lived this way because it was believed to be the way to ensure a pure and holy life that would lead to heaven. Communal rules for speech and demeanor governed their daily lives. The monks lived and worked under the care of an Abbot, a person who took the place of the Lord or father in the monastery and handled the concerns and best interests of those under his care.

The monastic life emerged in isolation with solitary men. It was an especially grueling way of life, physically and mentally draining on an individual. These early monks lived like hermits, in complete solitude in the desert; the monasteries had yet to be developed. “There I sat in solitary…my dirty skin was taking on the hue of the Ethiopians flesh: everyday tears, everyday sighing…my battered body ached on the naked earth.” They cast out and abandoned all things in life that were considered to be wanton luxury, including cooked food. (Perry 169) They did this because, alone in exposure to hunger, thirst, and the ravages of weather, they sought a mystical connection to God with a deeper knowledge of the universe and the nature of human beings. For even Moses, Elijah, Jesus and Muhammad retreated to the desert to seek their life’s mission.

Slowly monasticism developed into something much more than individual sacrifice. Saint Benedict of Nursia (480-547) was the first to really develop the monasteries as small spiritual communities in which men lived by strict and stringent rule. They abided in very meager environments with none of life’s luxuries awarded to them. Very modest clothing was permitted and sparse, yet congenial, meals were eaten with one another. The intent was to be highly spiritual; that was their initial goal. And they had to perform manual labor because laziness was seen as an “enemy of the soul.” So they gathered together daily to work in the garden and around the grounds. The monks also gathered daily to pray seven times a day. They believed strongly that God was always watchfully upon them, especially during prayers. “Serve the Lord in all fear….sing wisely…in the sight of angels I will sing unto thee.” (Perry 173) They also required the prayers to be brief and to the point in order to show “reverence, humility to be known for purity of heart and compunction of tears” (Perry 173)

The most noted feature of life in a monastery was humility. It was so vital to them because it was thought to be the ladder of Jacob ascending to heaven. “To ascend by humility, to descend through pride.” (Perry 174) The first key component to attaining and sustaining one’s humility was to fear God and keep that fear forever before one’s eyes. It was believed that those who failed to demonstrate proper humility dared to mock God and would therefore spend an eternity in Hell. Humility was practiced by humbly confessing to the Abbot any and all evil that swept through their hearts, and whatever un-Godly things they may have done in private. Another admonishment was to live by the common rule of the monastery. That is to say, not to go above and beyond; to do only what the Abbot expected. Anything more was seen as prideful and desirous of undo attention. The monks practiced the concept of silence. Few words were spoken. A man of few words was thought to be wise. “A talkative man is not established on earth… A wise man is known by his few words” (Perry 174) the final act of showing humility was to always act with humility “in his heart and in his bearing.”