Monastic Life

• Who was the most influential Holy teacher at the time?

  St Benedict
• What did St Benedict do?

  Created the Benedictine Order of Monasticism
• What did Benedictine Nuns and Monks vow?

  • Give up all wealth and possessions (Vow of Poverty)
  • Abstain from sex and other physical pleasure, like alcohol and sweet food (Vow of Chastity)
  • Obey the teachings of God, as interpreted by their Abbot or Abbess (Vow of Obedience)
  • Never to leave their monastic community (Vow of Stability)
• What time did Monks and Nuns go to bed?

  21:00
• What time did Monks and Nuns wake up?

  Midnight for morning prayers
• What did Monks and Nuns spend most time doing?

  Praying and looking after the Church
• What did William do to Monasteries?

  • Encouraged the construction on Abbeys and Monasteries, and many grand buildings
  • Brought Abbots and Abbesses from Normandy to ensure the rules of the Benedictine Order of Monasticism were followed
  • Cluniac Order was introduced in 1077 to make reform easier by interpreting more stricter rules from the Benedictine Order of Monasticism
• What happened to Abbots under the Feudal System?

  They became rich landowners, but also had to provide knights to the King
• What did William and his knights do in penance for his invasion?

  • Donated money as penance to Abbeys and Monasteries
  • Ordered the construction of the Battle Abbey at the site of the Battle of Hastings
• What became popular during the Reform?

  To send off daughters who couldn't be married off and younger sons who would not inherit anything to become Monks and Nuns