Monks
'Monasticism' is literally the act of 'dwelling alone'. A monk is someone who has separated himself from what might be called the "world". Since he often lived in a community being alone did not mean he was not with others.
Abbey of Cambron http://kenstraussposts.blogspot.com/2007/06/160607-abbey-of-cambron.html
The story of a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1148 by Saint Bernard. Its monks served the poor for the first several-hundred year.
In appreciative local landowners gave the abbey many tracts of fertile land that by the 1600’s it extended over more than 6000 hectares (nearly 15,000 acres).
Austerity vanished until their monks were known more for their wealth than servie ‘riche comme un moine de Cambron’ (‘as rich as a monk from Cambron’).
Drawn by greed for the abbey’s treasures and resentment of its political power Louis XIV attacked it with 12,000 men and 18 cannon and through the 18th century corruption and decadence were rife.
In 1789 the Austrian emperor, Joseph II, withdrew financial support, alleging that it had become ‘useless’ as a religious order.
Today the ruins of this abbey have been converted into one of the largest bird sanctuaries in Europe.
A look at modern Abbeys and monasteries
August Turak gives a businessman's perspective of the Trappist monks at Mepkin Abbey.
At Worth Abbey in England 5 men volunteer to examine monastic life in a video documentary.
on YouTube The Monastery 2005 episode 1 of 3 http://youtu.be/ch0SY2pHkDg
Interesting examination of monastic life as seen through the eyes of 5 volunteers.
It is really all about and the psychology and even the deception of a mental prison monastic life may form. The institutionalizing of monks as you sometime see with prisoners is common and not part of Christ's plan.
Monastic life is not without its own merits. It this isolated life where many distractions are stripped away you see men dealing with the problems of relationships.
Of course the same problems can be confronted by married monks as with any married people. What seems to be in short supply amongst some modern Monks and Churches in general is pure religion.
The purpose of the Church as an institution of Christ has been very much abandoned by most religions and Churches.
So what should real monastic life be like?
Monks |
Minister |
Titular Servants |
Elder |
Deacon |
Bishop |
Overseer |
ordain |
appoint |
Orders |
Religious Orders |
Rules of St Benedict |
Married Monks |
Mendicant |
Lost Monks |
Monasticism |
Modern Monastic life |
Churches |
Levites |
Vow of poverty |
All things common |
Guidelines |
Liturgy |
Priests |
Eucharist |
Daily ministration |
Christian conflict |
Diocletianic Persecution |
Altars |
Fringes |
Breeches |
Red heifer |
Sabbath |