Lecture 26: Benedictine Monasticism and Its Influence

Benedictine Monasticism and Its Influence

Lecture 26

I

n the last lecture, we saw the importance of the Frankish conquests

and the consolidation of Frankish rule under Charlemagne as the

Holy Roman Emperor, which involved, as well, a commitment to

Catholicism and to the bishop of Rome. We have also sketched the basics

of feudalism as the political-cultural context for medieval Christianity, and

we saw briefly how monasteries both fit and caused some tension within this

cultural system. Monasteries established cells of Christian life throughout

Europe that contributed to the agricultural economy and served as examples

of Augustine’s “city of God.” In this lecture, we’ll look in particular at

Benedictine monasticism, highlighting the key role it played in shaping

medieval Christianity in the West.

Benedict of Nursia

•    The true founder of Western monasticism

is Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–c. 550),

often called the patriarch of Western

monasticism because of the widespread

influence of his Rule for monks (also

called the Benedictine Rule).

•    The few details of Benedict’s life

are known from the brief biography

provided shortly after his death by

Pope Gregory I (Dialogues 2). The

account is highly laudatory and contains

a considerable amount of legendary

material. Gregory sought to portray

Benedict and his sister Scholastica along

the lines of biblical saints.

o Born in Nursia in the region of

Umbria, Benedict was educated in

Rome, but for reasons unknown—

The great achievement

of Benedict, his Rule

for monks, sought to

describe a life that

anyone of good will

could live; his work

represents a “school

of the Lord’s service”

for what we might call

“beginners” to the

religious life.

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