Apparently
the book shop has run out of course guides for ATS 1316.
Fear not! More have been ordered, and the readings for next week can all be accessed online.
You should prepare the essential readings labelled "Week 2" (in the Unit Guide, or in your purple book) for next Tuesday. These are:
Fear not! More have been ordered, and the readings for next week can all be accessed online.
You should prepare the essential readings labelled "Week 2" (in the Unit Guide, or in your purple book) for next Tuesday. These are:
- The Benedictine Rule (http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/rul-benedict.asp)
- A Chapter in the book called "Medieval Worlds" by Moran Cruz and Gerberding entitled "The Early Medieval Church and the West, 500-800". (Available as a digital copy by following the relevant links on the Library Readings List to be found on the right hand panel.)
The Week 2 tute blog will go up later today.
Thanks everyone!
It seems to me that the strict rules by which monasteries were governed (in particular the time allocated for religious contemplation and prayer) could not have been observed outside a strictly regulated community. Yet, they were crucial in allowing monks and nuns the mental solitude to reflect and find the religious fulfilment that many seemeed to yearn for.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you're right Anna. The rules St Benedict made certainly seem harsh, but given the aims of the monastery and its chaotic context, they must have been necessary. What struck me was his belief that shaming and almost provoking prospective newcomers with a harsh 'welcome' would 'weed out' those who weren't patient and humble enough to withstand monastery life. Also, his instruction to whip children who made mistakes in their oratory isn't one I had imagined people dedicated to religion would think reasonable. I understand though that those were different times and I suppose these were just methods of being consistent in observing important principles.
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