In the following essay, Desprez discusses some of the personalities who shaped western monasticism, including St. Athanasius, St. Jerome, St. Martin, Honoratus, and John Cassian.
I. Italy, Palestine...
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In the following essay, originally published in French in 1957, Leclercq surveys the types of literature written by the monks, including hagiographies, sermons, sententiae, and letters.
In the Midd...
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In the following essay, originally published in French in 1957, Leclercq discusses how spiritual experience transforms literature.
Protestations of modesty at the beginning of a work and the offeri...
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In the following essay, Collinge discusses Anselm's views on the importance of obedience and surrender in monastic life.
Is the study of monastic life of interest to philosophers as philosop...
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In the following essay, Kardong analyzes John Cassian's early-fifth-century writings on monastic practices and experiences.
Recent books on ascetic and monastic practices by Margaret Miles1 ...
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In the following essay, Anderson discusses the monastic observance described in the Navigatio Brendani, a medieval narrative of a seven-year voyage.
Introduction
One of the most intriguing theologi...
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In the following essay, Pranger explains how Anselm's reading of Augustine illuminates the monastic mindset.
In his recent book Augustine the Reader Brian Stock has drawn attention to a rema...
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In the following essay, Georgianna analyzes Heloise's letters to Abelard concerning her conversion to monastic life and her requests for a new form of religious rule.
In Héloïs...
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In the following essay, originally published in 1994, Horner analyzes the elegy “The Wife's Lament” for indications of what life was like in the female monastic community.
It h...
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In the following essay, Lifshitz explores the nature of the authority exercised by abbesses.
No studies have yet explored the authority and office of female monastic superiors, nor have the latter ...
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In the following essay, Warren explores the Middle English version of the story of the miracle of the pregnant abbess from the Alphabet of Tales, interpreting it in terms of the association made betwe...
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In the following essay, Desprez examines how St. Augustine and St. Fulgentius influenced monasticism in Africa and surveys monasticism in Spain.
A. Roman and Vandal Africa: St. Augustine
African mo...
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In the following essay, Berman provides an overview of the history of women's religious communities. Parenthetical numerical references in the text refer to documents presented in Berman'...
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In the following essay, Brakke discusses narratives about monks who, upon their deaths, were revealed to have been disguised women.
According to a famous monastic saying, the Egyptian desert in Lat...
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In the following essay, Renna compares and contrasts the ideas of Bede and Bernard.
Bede and Bernard. The one, the great monastic illuminary from Anglo-Saxon England; the other, from twelfth-centur...
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In the following essay, Martin examines Augustine's writings in praise of the monastic way of life.
What is it therefore to speak not only eloquently but also wisely, unless to apply suffici...
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In the following essay, Alberi discusses how Alcuin attempted to follow his “true philosophy” as a monk while serving in the court of Charlemagne.
During his years in the Frankish kin...
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In the following essay, originally delivered as a lecture in 1906, Gasquet provides an economic perspective on medieval bookmaking.
Turning over the pages of our annals the reader constantly comes ...
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In the following essay, Ward discusses secular influences on monastic historiography.
The Importance of Monastic Historiography in the Period
Historical studies had deserted the cathedral chapters ...
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In the following essay, Workman discusses lessons that may be learned by studying the history of monasticism.
I
From this survey of the development and history of Monasticism we shall do well to tu...
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In the following essay, Legge discusses the writings of the Dominicans and the Franciscans.
The two great Orders of Mendicants had in some respects a similar history in England and in France, but w...
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WAILUA, Hawaii _ In a clearing within Kauai Aadheenam's lush gardens, the ping, ping, pinging of metal chipping at stone can be heard as a half-dozen artisans from India put the finishing flourishe...
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In a clearing within Kauai Aadheenam's lush gardens, the ping, ping, pinging of metal chipping at stone can be heard over the sounds of bird calls. A half-dozen artisans from South India put the fi...
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Monasticism
Critical Essay by Vincent Desprez
All-stone Hindu temple rises in Kauai
