Monasticism in the Catholic Church - Xavier James L.S.

MONASTICISM

                                                                                               

XAVIER JAMES L.S.

INTRODUCTION

One of the most influential religious structures in the church during the patristic age was Monasticism. Suddenly young people started going to forest and desert to live a solitary life. Martyrdom came to an end in Christianity when it became a state religion.  People thought that dying to oneself is a kind of martyrdom. It was thought that going for monastic life was a white martyrdom. Green martyrdom was going to the forest and living by oneself.  It was a popular movement started by the lay faithful who took the Gospel passage seriously (Mt: 19: 22-30) to follow the Lord. 

DEFINITION

Joan Glazier defines Monastery as, “The fixed abode of a community of monks.  The name is sometimes popularly extended to the residents of communities who are not monks, such as Franciscans, Dominicans and Passionists”.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Christianity was born within Judaism.  It was one of the institutions in the Roman Empire. Christians were a tiny minority. Those who opted to be Christians were ready to put up with any kind of difficulties and persecutions. A small community in the third century became a big community in the fifth century. Through the influence of the Christian Community the emperor Constantine became a Christian. Then Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire and many became Christians. It was thought that Christianity had passport to higher offices in the empire. From being a persecuted religion it became a favoured religion. Since it was great in number, many did not follow the religion with its original teachings. Predominantly a radical group ceased to be a radical one. Christianity lost vigour. Some people were not happy with such kind of life. Some thought to leave the world and live alone (monk) in solitude. As a result there came about this institution, Monasticism.

CLARIFICATIONS

Monk comes from the Greek word Monachos, which means solitary life (mono –alone).

Dendrites are the ones who lived on the trees. Stylites are the ones who lived on the pillars. Adamites are the ones who did not wear clothes.  Hermits are the ones who live in the Desert. Anchorites are the ones who lived on the hills and in caves (Anchorite– Anchor in – withdrawal). Cenobites are the ones who lived in the community.

In the beginning there were lay people who embraced the monastic life. They were inclusive of poor peasants, uneducated people from Egypt who spoke Coptic language. It began in the East and later on went to the west. They did not have Eucharist since they were staying in the desert. When a priest passed through then they had Holy Eucharist.  We need to know for sure the possible reasons for this new institution coming into existence.

POSSIBLE REASONS

1. Monastery in the Church emerged as a reaction against the laxity in Christianity and the pomp and splendors in the Church.
2. Many early Christians were slaves and in this group they had an identity. Because the Christians spoke about the other world and good life, it gave hope for the new world.
3. Martyrdom came to an end in Christianity when it became a state religion.  People thought that dying to oneself is a kind of martyrdom. It was thought that going for monastic life was a white martyrdom. Green martyrdom was going to the forest and living by oneself.   
4. Many people were fed up with the Church growing more clergy oriented. Monasticism began as lay movement as anti clerical and as people oriented Church.
5. Many joined this group in order to avoid taxes and persecutions.
6. Some women thought that marriage was slavery and a form of oppression by men so they joined the monastic life.
7. Some found that in Egypt there was a good climate by the river of Nile, so many went for climate change.
8. Just like Jesus, some went into farthest place possible to live with Essenes.
9. Buddhism might have influenced Christianity.

NEGATIVE ELEMENTS

1. There was disdain for flesh and penance increased. Body was not respected, it was considered as something evil.
2. Monks were not missionaries, but they were busy in saving their own souls. They became self- centered.
3. They were bothered only about soul; and so soul was considered great and flesh was hated. The whole person was not taken into account.

CONTRIBUTIONS

           

            The monasteries served as reform movements.  They were instrumental for copying of the Holy Scripture the Bible.  The monasteries were mission oriented and they began spreading Christianity in England and France.  Some orders were so influential in reformation within the church.  In 910, a monastery was founded in Cluny in France, which later on became Clunic order.

PERSONS TO BE REMEMBERED

            When we speak about monasticism we need to remember some persons who really played an important role in the emergence of this new institution in the Catholic Church.

ANTONY THE HERMIT (251-356)

Anthony is considered to be the father of Christian Monasticism. He was not the founder of monasticism. Anthony was an illiterate peasant, but from a well-off family. When he was with his younger sister he heard a voice saying, “If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor then come and follow me”. After consulting a monk who was living near the village, Anthony literally followed the Lord. The spirituality then was ‘Flee, be silent and be calm’.

PACHOMIUS (290-346)

Pachomius became Christian at the age of 20 and led a life of a hermit. He introduced community life (Cenobitic) in the monastery. He brought about some changes in the life style of the hermits. He realized that the monks who lived in common faced many problems. It was difficult to feed many and no one was there to guide them spiritually. Community life came into existence after the example of the first Christians who lived and owned everything in common. Once a year they worked in the field and kept the earning in common. They lived in small cells. They insisted on penance, common prayers and obedience to the leader. The Monks ate together, prayed and worked together. If any priest passed by, then there was Eucharist available for the monks.

BASIL THE GREAT (CAESAREA) (300-379)

Basil was a most influential, distinguished orator. He comes from a devout family. He influenced his family members so much that both his brothers became bishops- Gregory of Nyssa and Peter. His sister Macarena became an ascetic. Basil was a well-educated person who studied in Caesarea, Athens and Constantinople. He was known for his rhetoric. He decided to be a hermit and embraced monasticism. People asked him to be the leader of the monastery. He reorganized the monastic life. He encouraged intellectual works in the monastery. Basil was involved in theological debates. People were attracted towards him and asked him to be the bishop of Caesarea. He was a busy man and involved in the life of the people. He was known for his social work at the time of plague, which prowled around at that time. He made the monks serve the people who were affected by the plague. He brought monastery nearer to the cities and towns. With him began the Outward looking spirituality. And so the monks

1. Fed the poor 2. Looked after the sick 3. Showed hospitality to the stranger 4. Taught religion to the Christians. Basil wrote the rules of the community for the smooth running of the monastery.

MARTIN OF TOURS (316-379)

He was the contemporary of Basil. He was born in Hungary to non-Christian parents. He was a military officer. He had a tremendous faith in Christ Jesus and wanted to become a Christian. About him a story is said that he gave his half coat to a poor and that night Jesus appeared to him with the same half coat. From 360AD he led the life of a hermit and many followed him. Then he became a bishop. He encouraged and promoted the hermits. He believed that ALL PEOPLE COULD BE SAVED; even the greatest sinner could be saved. He was very strict with himself but very concerned about and considerate towards others. He never forced his views on others. He was against the heretics and also against the persecution of the heretics.

AMBROSE (333-397)

Ambrose was the bishop of Milan. He founded the order of virgins. These people stayed in their families and took a public vow of chastity. They had fixed place in the cathedral. Ambrose placed the Virgin Mary as the model for the virgins.

JEROME (347-419)

Eusebius Jerome Eronimus was born to Christian parents in Italy. He was baptized at the age of 20. He was fascinated by ascetic life. He went to Egypt and came back to Rome to practice ascetic life in Rome. Jerome popularized this tradition. Some noble women began to lead such life. There were some virgins and widows in this movement. It was thought that virginity was superior to marriage, and sexuality was a hindrance to purity. Many women began to embrace monastic life and men opposed it. So Jerome left Rome and remained at Jerusalem. Then with Paula, the noble widow he founded a monastery. He became the spiritual guide and remained there for 35 years.  There he did his Latin translation of the Bible and wrote the biblical commentary. Through the generosity of Paula he could do a lot of writings. He was very harsh with others. People could not bear with him due to his verbal attacks, which were very humiliating.

AUGUSTIN (354-430)

After his conversion, Augustine embraced the monastic life at Carthage. He founded a monastery with his old friends. He educated people and philosophy was taught in the monastery. Studies became very important in the monastery. When he became the bishop of Hippo, he had an Episcopal monastery. He insisted his priests to live in community and practice chastity. There was a tendency to assimilate a priest with a monk. Priests were chosen from the monks. The rules he wrote for the monastery became the norms for many religious congregations.

EPHRAEM (390-459)

Ephraem began monastic schools and young students lived as monks. They lived in obedience. At the same time there lived Simeon the Stylite who lived above the 60 feet pillar. It is another step towards the experience of God.

JOHN OF CASSIAN (362-435)

John was instrumental in bringing monastic tradition to the west. In 415 he established a monastery in France. He combined Eastern-Western monasticisms and emphasized the role of discernment in the life of the monks. Athanasius had spread monasticism in the west from 335-346.

BENEDICT (480-547)

Benedict was an abbot. According to his name he led a good life. He is known as the father of the western monasticism and known for his rules. These rules continued for 1200 years.  He was an example to his disciples. He had house meeting and invited opinions and debates. There was time allotted for prayer, work and study of the Bible. He provided a definitive framework for monastic life that also remained flexible. He governed the monastery with prudence and humanity.

WOMEN

In the early church, the widows did not remarry, but they rendered their service to the church. Mary the sister of Pachomius began a monastery for women who had life in common. It was a new movement by the women in the church. It was more of inward looking spirituality and each one strived for one’s own salvation. Macrina the sister of Basil the great led an ascetical life. Many women joined her in this movement. Paula, a rich widow together with her daughter Estochium provided shelter and rendered help to Jerome. Then they too led monastic life. Due to her generosity Jerome could do a lot of literary works.

In this way, many religious congregations came into existence according to the need of the hour. When some one sees something lacking in certain life style, then starts a new life style. And so there came about Dominicans, Franciscans, Mendicants, Carthusians, Norbertines, Cistercians, Templars, Hospitallers etc…

CONCLUSION

Monasticism as an institution survives till today in one or the other form. As centuries passed by, many religious congregations for men and women came into existence. They have brought positive reformation and growth in the life of the Church. The emergence of monasticism has made drastic change and progress in the faith of Christians. Today also we need some renewal in the church. It is high time for us to read the signs of the time. Let us be awake, be alert for in this new age we need to be witnessing Church by challenging our life style constantly.  Let us hope and work, for in His time he makes all things beautiful.

BIBILIOGRAPHY

1.      Mircea Eliade Ed., The encyclopedia of Religion, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1987.

2.      Michael Galazier and Monika K.Helling Eds., Catholic Encyclopedia, Clareitian Publication, Bangalore, 1997.