Monasticism

Monast ic ism

Mr. Pablo Cuadra Religion Class

What is th e meanin g of the wo rd mo nk?  The word monk comes from the Greek “monachos”  A term that means: solitary, one living alone.

Who is t he founder o f Ch rist ian monast ic ism ?  The tradition of monastic life goes back to St. Anthony the Great (251-356) in Egypt.

Who is a monk?  A person who practices religious asceticism.

What is th e meanin g of the wo rd a sc etic ism?  A. Asceticism is the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit.  B. Ex: A football player devotion to his or her game through rigorous training.

Where does the of monasti cis m from?  A. Monastic life has roots in the Old Testament and New Testament.  B. Prophets like Elias and John the Baptist both lived alone in the desert living a life of prayer and sacrifice for God.  C. Jesus also went away to the desert to pray and find spiritual strength.

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Ho w d id m onast ic l if e deve lop?  A. St. Anthony began the tradition in the 3rd century.  B. He lived alone in the Egyptian desert as an anchorite.  C. He attracted a group of followers that imitated him in his spiritual pursuit.  D. St. Anthony taught them how to pursuit God in solitude.

 E. More joined in attracted by the holiness of St. Anthony.  F. Gradually they formed small communities, coming together only on Sundays and special holidays.

Who devel oped practi ce of l ife communi ti es?  Monks living together under one roof and one rule is attributed to St. Pachomios (292-348).  This tradition grew in the Eastern Roman empire.  Monasteries housed an average of 30,000 monks.

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Who was St . Ba sil the Gr eat?  St. Basil the Great was the first to establish clear rules for monks on how to live the monastic life.

Who were J ohn Ca ssia n a nd St Be nedict?  They are the fathers of monastic life in the Western church.

What are some of the characteri stics of monasti c livi ng?  A. Monks separate themselves from the world in order to pray for the world.  B. Monks are concerned with “Theosis” or union with God.  C. Monks are selfsupporting.

 D. A monk’s life is dived into three parts: worship, manual labor, and private study, prayer and rest.  E. Meals are eaten in common while listening to the scriptures.  F. Most of the monk’s activities are done in silence.  G. Monks practice selfdiscipline, poverty, and prayer

What a re the t hree t ypes of monast ic living in t he East ern and Ort hodox Churches?  A. Anchorites or hermits (living in isolation).  B. Coenobitic (living in community)  C. Skete ( a mixture of solitary living and community).

What are the d egrees of mo nast ic l if e i n the Ea st ?  A. Novitiate (one under  Monks receive the Great obedience)  B. Rassaphore (robe-bearer) Wears a black robe with wide sleeves and a belt signifying death to the world.  C. Stavrophore (crossbearer) or little schema. The monk makes his first formal vows or promises. He is given a cross and a candle that will be use at his funeral.  D. Great Schema (the highest level of spiritual excellence)

schema a scapular with the instruments of the Passion and Trisagion.  This stage is given only after 25 years of service or at deathbed.

Ho w a re monks addressed?  Monks are addressed as “Fathers” even if they are not priests.  Monks can be priests, deacons, bishops or brothers.  In the Eastern Church bishops are selected from the ranks of monks.  Seminaries are usually attached to a monastery to teach students preparing for priesthood the benefits of the spiritual life.

What is a monastery?  A. A monastery is the place where monks or nuns live in community.  B. The head of the monastery is the “Abbott” or father.

Ab bot  The spiritual Father of the Monastery.  The abbot is elected by the monks  The abbot is blessed by the Bishop.  Abbots received Episcopal insignias (Mitre, ring, crosier, pectoral cross)  Abbots can confer the ministries of acolyte and lector.  Abbots have spiritual jurisdiction over their monastery.

Ro man Ca tholic Monks (We stern Ch urc h)  A. Follow the Rule of St. Benedict of Nursia.  B. Profess three vows or promises: obedience, Stability and Conversion of Life (Conversatio Morum).  C. To become a monk one must first be an oblate or novice.  D. Monks live in a monastery with other monks.  E. Monks wear a plain brown or black cape and a cross.

 F. Conversion of Life or fidelity to the monastic life includes a commitment to poverty and chastity.  G. The life of the monk is marked by prayer and manual labor (Ora et Labora).  H. The monks’ prayer is rooted in the tradition of the Liturgy of the hours. The call to pray without ceasing.

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