The Latin word inscribed under the Romanesque arch (entrance to the home of western monasticism at Monte Cassino, Italy) is "Pax" or Peace. 

It was every monk's goal to experience the Peace -- a glimpse of Paradise -- that comes through an intensive search for God. The method was prayer in many forms -- individual and communal, sung and said, formal and free. The method was to get as far from general society as possible. The next few images show just how far some went.(Photos by M. Markowski) 

Benedict of Monte Cassino wrote the most influential 'regula' or rule (constitution would be a better translation) for cenobitic (live-and-eat-together) monks. This "life-in-common" for monastic groups differed from hermits who lived alone and did their own thing. 

Monks took three vows: poverty (no personal property, but all things were owned by all the community of monks); chastity (a rare word these days, but meant no sex, even if a person who was married entered the monastery); obedience (to the abbot or abbess of the monastery -- a person who was elected by the community).

However, click here to see the response of Brother Columban, a Benedictine monk, who 'clarified' a few items about those vows.

The Scriptorium served the goal of union with God in a number of ways. Benedict's Rule set aside a generous amount of time for monks to spend reading, usually liturgical works. Also, most books in the Early Middle Ages were reproduced in the Scriptorium by copyists. Grammar books were composed and used for teaching, for to read the Bible required a clear and educated mind. And, since rulers needed charters, letters etc., they often came to monasteries with ready cash and parchment to avail themselves of the skills of the Scriptorium.

A good introduction to this topic is Medieval Monasticism by C.H. Lawrence.

It might be worthwhile first to review Early Medieval Monasticism at Jarrow and Glastonbury. Then click the "next" button below: