From Vellum to Vespers: 10 Intriguing Elements of Medieval Monastic Life

Consider the following scenario. It's AD 1348. You are a country peasant born into an unthinkable life of suffering. Serfs all around you toil from dawn to sunset, working their feudal lord's land to pay him his enormous dues.The most you can hope for is that your modest business as a basket weaver grows large enough to secure you a small land holding of your own, which will allow you to live comfortably in your old age. The worst-case scenario is a life of painful physical labour, a diet devoid of meat, and possibly death from delivery or epidemic. Would you be enticed to take sacred vows and become a monk in these circumstances? If that's the case, keep reading because there was a lot more to life as a monk than the goofy hairstyle!

10 . The Silly Haircut

I bet you can name it. The bowl cut that culminates in a bald spot? This one-of-a-kind look was accomplished by shaving the hair in the centre and then shortening the remainder. The monks who wore it felt a deep connection to their faith because of it.

This hairdo, known as a "tonsure," was traditionally worn by monks as a sign of their commitment to Christ. Several competing explanations have been put up as to why only part of the head was shaved. The final ring of Jesus's hair has been interpreted by some as a representation of the crown of thorns he wore during his crucifixion. Some historians attribute the custom to the Crusades, when Christians sought to set themselves apart from Muslims by following the Islamic practice of total head-shaving after a pilgrimage to Mecca. Regardless, the haircut was worn by monks for centuries, over multiple generations, until Pope Paul VI banned the tonsuring procedure in 1973.

9. Home Sweet Home

When compared to the living conditions of peasants and serfs, monks had it quite a bit better. Yes, their sleeping quarters consisted of little more than a cell with some straw thrown in. They didn't have much in the way of material possessions, but at least they had a place to sleep at night and food on the table every day.

The Gothic architectural style was used to construct several monasteries that were enormous, sprawling, beautiful buildings meant to display the wealth of the church and reflect the glory of God to the unwashed people. It wasn't a terrible hangout option, really.

As early as AD 406, monastic communities were established in England. The famously abrupt beginning of English monasteries occurred in the 1530s, when King Henry VIII declared the country Protestant after becoming upset at having to petition the Pope for permission to get a divorce. The wealthy pillaged the monks for their wealth.

End of a really Unique era!

8. Poverty, Chastity & Obedience

Hmmm. It's hardly exactly the life of luxury, is it? Men who had given up worldly goods and wanted to be with others like them would gather in a mediaeval monastery. They decided to devote themselves to higher pursuits rather than material ones. As such, they pledged to abstain from material possessions and outside ties in exchange for a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. St. Benedict, who in the sixth century described the ideal monastic life, served as the inspiration for these vows.

Chastity was, of course, easy to avoid if one of two things were true: a) one was sexually attracted to other men, and b) one was able to locate a willing (and discreet) partner within the monastery. It sounds like life was very wonderful for those fortunate individuals.

7. The Icon

The ownership of a holy relic or icon was a crucial component of the life of a monk. The icon could be anything that people revere and flock to see; for example, a portion of the original cross on which Christ was crucified or the bones of a saint are both examples of things that fit this description. Or, as is the case with the city of Turin in Italy, the burial shroud that Jesus wore when he was laid to rest.

If you had any luck, the relic that was housed in your monastery would become famous, and Christians from all over the world would go on a pilgrimage to visit it. They would bring with them much-needed business for the local area, as well as a significant increase in the amount of money donated to your church.

6. Shhhhhh!

If a monk felt a bit of boredom after entering the order, he couldn't have found relief by engaging in light conversation with his peers. Most of the monks' work was done in silence because it was the norm at monasteries, which were places of tranquilly. Not even at supper could they have a casual conversation.

Some monks found creative ways to circumvent the requirement of quiet. During lunch times, monks would utilise sign language to ask for more food or drink. Whistling was another kind of covert communication used by some. The youthful "novices" (recruits in their teens learning the practises of monastic life) and "oblates" (children assigned to the care of the monks) were commonly instructed in these practises. This was how the silent languages were preserved and transmitted down through the millennia.

5. Stand, Sit, Kneel… and Repeat

Are you beginning to feel that life as a monk may have been a little bit dull? You're most likely correct in thinking that! The monotony of performing charity deeds and maintaining a constant silence was, thankfully, broken up on a regular basis by lengthy and difficult church services.

A whopping eight services were held each and every day for the monks. They arose with the sun (which means that summer must have been significantly more excruciating than winter!) and participated in a number of different choral services including Matins, Lauds, and Mass. They also met every day for what was known as a Chapter, which was a formal gathering for the purpose of discussing monastic matters. It is possible for a monk to spend up to ten hours of each day engaged in religious activities related to their vocation.

That's a whole lot of chanting right there!

4. More Than Meat-Free Fridays

The way of living in the middle ages was very regimented. Not only did England's "sumptuary laws" regulate the behaviour of monks, but they also cover a wide range of other topics. There were laws that dictated, for instance, the kind of clothing and colours that people may wear based on their social rank, as well as the prices that restaurants were permitted to charge for the food they served.

In spite of the many inconveniences associated with monastic life, monks could typically count on being provided with food that was both consistent and of a good quality, as monasteries were typically highly prosperous institutions. However, mediaeval people were required by law to observe three "fasting" days per week: Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. These days were Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. They observed a great deal more during religious observances, such as during the period of Lent.

The word "fast" cannot be used in this context in its contemporary connotation. During these particular days, the only foods that individuals were compelled to abstain from eating were meat and dairy items. The fish and the vegetables both tasted good. Amazingly, there were certain monks who craved meat so badly while they were on their fast that they came up with a cunning plan to get around the rules: they reclassified certain types of meat as fish. During periods of fasting, there is evidence that people consumed beaver tails and rabbit foetuses as food. A certain community of monks in France had even taken to gobbling up the local puffins.

3. The Arts

We owe a great deal of gratitude to our cloaked brethren. It's no secret that monks and nuns spent a lot of time and energy keeping books and manuscripts in good condition, making copies of them, and creating new ones. They are responsible for the preservation of numerous works by Cicero, Aristotle, and Virgil. Without the burden of subsistence, and with the added benefit of literacy, these men were able to devote their time and energy to producing outstanding works of art. Their creative spirit lives on in the Middle Ages through the surviving illuminated manuscripts and choral music.

In fact, monasteries were frequently the only locations where books could be found. Books were extremely valuable and costly. Monasteries were a primary target of the Viking assaults that plagued Europe until the eleventh century. While many monks may have made a vow of poverty, it appears that the establishments themselves were quite wealthy.

2. Jobs

You may be assigned a special duty in the monastery in addition to your regular schedule of prayer, study, and altruism. The abbot, of course, was the most powerful member of the community; unless you were extremely fortunate, you wouldn't have a shot at becoming abbot.

The abbot was the main point of contact with the outside world and served as the public "face" of the monastery. The prior, in charge of the monks' day-to-day operations, was the next in authority. He also named a cellarer to manage the food and drink supplies and a steward to oversee the monastery's financial matters. The role of the cantor was to direct the choir, while that of the almoner was to care for the poor and needy outside the church. The church's sacrist was responsible for keeping things neat and orderly during services.

That's a lot of work!

1. Stylish Attire

It's likely that when you think of a monk, the first thing that comes to mind is a man decked out in brown robes, wearing sandals on his feet, and holding a rosary in his hand. In point of fact, robes were available in a wide variety of hues, and the hues you wore depended on the order you belonged to.

The members of the Benedictine Order traditionally dressed in black and were finally given the nickname "the black monks." The members of the Carthusian Order wore white clothing. The name "cappuccino" comes from the brown robes with a long pointed hood that the Capuchin friars in Italy wore.

Did you know? It is from these monks that we get the word "cappuccino."