1

Lecture 20: Byzantium and Western Monasticism

12 November 2015

2

Outline

History of Fifth Century and Barbarian Invasions

Justinian the Great The Conversion of the Franks Roman Monasticism and Benedict Irish Monasticism Meeting of Irish and Roman Monasticism

3

Key Historical Events 5th Century Increasingly West was under pressure from northern

tribes (Goths, Visigoths, Vandals) who in turn under pressure from Huns

Some of those Goths led by Alaric sacked Rome in 410 Sack of Rome caused Christian theologians to rethink

the initial triumphal historical view of Constantine: Augustine The City of God

Augustine dies in 430 as Hippo is besieged by Vandals Only center of power in Empire is Constantinople Attila the Hun reaches Rome in 452, persuaded by Pope

St. Leo the Great not to sack Rome Last Roman emperor in West abdicated in 476

Christological Controversies 4

City of God

Augustine wrote City of God to explain how this could happen

Traces the history of Roman Empire to show that without Christ Roman Empire was great only in eyes of man; human societies are destined to rise and fall

Only true society is society of pilgrim Church moving toward heavenly Jerusalem But even pilgrim Church is a mixtures of wheat and tares

Takes up many of themes of Confessions, plus Pelagian Controversy, plus theory of history and society, plus, plus, plus…

Systematic work analyzing all of these issues

5

5th Century Invasions

http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firsteuro/imgs/map24.html

6

Roman-English Frontier and Early English Christianity Julius Caesar first to send expedition to England in

55 BC Roman influence in southern Britain, not in

Scotland; Hadrian’s Wall built 122 AD Recall that Constantine the Great was born in

England Roman troops brought Christianity with them in 4th C Native English (Picts, Angles, Scots) population

never converted After Fall of Rome in 410, Roman troops leave

England

7

Development of Early Irish Christianity Recall that Pelagius was from England In fact, most of English hierarchy supported

Pelagius Pope Celestine (same pope who sided with Cyril

over Nestorius) in 430 sent a new bishop to England and one to Ireland, Palladius Palladius is from Gaul Charged with destroying Pelagianism in England and

proselytizing Ireland Palladius’ mission was not successful

8

St. Patrick (387-493)

Born on Roman-Scottish frontier to prominent Gallic ‘French’ Roman family Captured by Irish marauders in 406; spends 6 years as a slave in Ireland

During this time he has a conversion experience Escapes and returns to family in England Goes to Gaul for training in priesthood Returns to England as part of group headed by St. Germain sent by Pope

Celestine after Palladius Patrick begs to be sent as a missionary to Ireland in 433 Has difficulty with Pelagian bishops in England Established many Christian communities in Ireland, monasteries and convents

St. Brigit Latin as school language in Ireland

Wrote numerous prayers, letters, Confession Died 493

9

Patrick’s Confessions

Story of sin, capture, conversion, return Studies for priesthood in France, not England Importance of Scripture; told in Scripture Suspicious of rhetoric Role of dreams At odds with English clergy

10

Irish Christianity

Bishops in Ireland and England did not become civil administrators after Romans Never were Roman administrators in Ireland Native pagan tribes took over in England; Romans in England were occupiers, not

colonizers English (Pelagian) Christianity seems to have disappeared with Roman

authorities during the 5th C Ireland not affected by barbarian invasions until Vikings in 800 Irish communities developed around monasteries with bishop/abbot as leader Developed Christian customs for 150 years nearly completely isolated from

Rome Different calculation for Easter Discipline (penance, private confession) Organization: abbots rather than bishops

Strong missionary spirit, founded most important Irish monastery at Iona in Scotland led by St. Columba in 563 Monks from Iona evangelize Europe from 7 th through the 8th C In later 6th and early 7th C: St. Columbanus heads a mission to Italy??!!

11

12

Eastern Monasticism: Early 4th C Desert Monks (from Greek for solitary), primarily in

Egypt: anchorites withdrawn from society Most famous: Anthony (251-356), Athanasius (Bishop of Alexandria, opposed Arius) wrote a

very influential life of Anthony, example: Augustine Confessions Book VIII

Communal monasticism: cenobitic Many attracted to this way of life, come together in groups Rule of St. Pachomius (286 – 346) Pachomius’ sister, Mary, establishes an Egyptian

monastery for women

13

Early 5th C Western Monastic Developments: John Cassian (360-435) Born in France, spent time as an anchorite in

Egypt Brought Pachomius’ Rule back with him Made it available in West in his Divine

Institutes and Conferences Wrote against Augustine in the Pelagian

controversy Considered a semi-Pelagian

Revered as a saint in the East, but not the West

14

What’s a Rule

Prescribes the way of life for the community Includes what prayers are said when Defines balance between work, study, prayer Community organization (abbot, monks,

novices) and how leaders are selected Process for acceptance into community How new communities are created Relation between community and diocese

15

St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547) Predominately influenced by Pachomius via John

Cassian Lived during the attempted reconquest of Western

Roman Empire by Justinian the Great Established an order of Monks, now known as

Benedictines, governed by his Rule Founded a monastery outside of Rome, Monte Casino Sister, Scholastica, founded an order of nuns to follow

the Rule Most popular religious order in West until 13th C

(Dominicans and Franciscans)

16

Benedict’s Rule

God brings good works to perfection, not our efforts Focus on Scripture, especially Psalms A school for the Lord’s service Jacob’s ladder and steps of humility leading to

perfect love of God Rules for abbot; how abbot is chosen Other positions in monastery Cycle of work and prayer Discipline Reception of guests

17

Late 6th and 7th Century Parallel Missionary Activities in Western Europe Parallel, independent missionary activities from Rome going Northwest and

Ireland (Iona) going Southeast Irish monks in 6th and 7th Century go to France, Germany, Holland to preach

Christianity; follow Rhine to Southern Germany then across Alps into northern Italy St. Columban(us) travels extensively through Europe establishing Irish

style monasteries, including one in Bobbio, Northern Italy (d. 615) His biography is written by a monk in Irish monastery in northern Italy

Meanwhile, missionaries from Rome are also trying to convert Arian and Pagan Germanic tribes in what is now France Conversion of Chlodwech (Clovis) 496 Pope St. Gregory the Great sends Augustine to England 597

Pope Honorius I (625), a Benedictine, grants Monastery at Bobbio exemption from oversight by local bishop

Irish refer to Pope as the Abbot of Rome Differences between Irish and Roman Churches resolved at Synod of

Whitby, 664, in favor or Roman customs

18

Pope St. Gregory Great (546-604)

Established a monastery in Rome that followed Benedict’s Rule

Wrote a life of Benedict; only source of information on Benedict and Scholastica (according to Gregory both smarter and greater in love than her brother)

Reformed Roman clergy around monastic model Sent Augustine of Canterbury to England Earliest extant life of Gregory written by a nun in Whitby,

8th C

19

Introduction to Pastoral Rule

Issues with clergy in West during time of Gregory Great: crass Money and power were in Church Tax and military benefits for clergy

Issues with clergy: intellectual Church controlled education Church (monasteries) places of quiet refuge

20

Pastoral Rule, Government of Souls: the Art of Arts First published as a short work in 593; also translated into Greek Key theme: Pastor must meet his people where they are

(condescension) and draw them up toward salvation To do this, the Pastor must be a man of personal wisdom and

spirituality Pastor is a doctor of souls Model for entire church is relation between abbot and monks Division of Pastoral Rule

Part I Who should (and should not) be pastors Part II How Pastors should lead their lives Part III Teaching and Preaching Part IV Greatest temptation for Pastors: pride

21

Pastoral Rule Part I

Pastors must live the life they preach Distinction between studying and learning

something ‘academically’ and being able to live it Pastor must follow example of Christ in humility; be

careful not to be like Saul and David A man endowed with great gifts should not decline

becoming a pastor; in so doing he also deprives himself of the advantage of his gifts

Man with ability to rule should not be content to hide in monastery

22

Pastoral Rule Part II

Life of pastor set apart from flock Symbolism of priest’s vestments Pastor should transfer to himself the infirmities of others even as

his contemplation leads him to God Example of Paul’s condescending love to those who are married Moses gong in and out of tabernacle

Humility of pastors: joy should not be in ruling over men, but in helping them to salvation

Pastor must continue to develop his own inner life, even as he is occupied with external affairs

Vices can sometimes masquerade as virtues Pastors must study Scripture every day to renew their heart

23

Pastoral Rule Part III

Pastor must distinguish among his listeners “must touch the hearts of his hearers by using one

and the same doctrine, but not by giving to all one and the same exhortation”

Series of admonishments; longest part of Rule

24

Pastoral Rule Part IV

While restoring others to health, the pastor must not neglect his own health

Greatest problem for pastor is pride Pastor must not be secure in his self-

confidence The pastor must not be deceived by success “when the wealth of virtues flatters us, the

eye of the soul should turn its gaze on its infirmities”

25

Gregorian Liturgical Reforms

Distinctive Roman liturgical practices started in 5th C with Popes Leo and Gelasius But practices were local depending on bishop

Gregory collected and ordered various liturgical prayers and hymns Gregorian Sacramentary Gregorian Antiphonary

Gregory’s Roman Sacramentary quickly became standard throughout Europe in Roman Catholic Church

Gregorian Chant became the standard music of Roman Catholic Church

Emphasis on Mass as sacrifice

26

Gregory as a Man of Antiquity and Middle Ages Antiquity

Education, social status in Rome Time in Constantinople; impact of Gregory Nazianzus Letters with Eastern Rulers (spiritual and civil) Sadness over destruction of Western Empire and continued distancing from

East Epitaph of God’s Counsel

Medieval Combination of Eastern and Irish monasticism Missionary activities in Europe Recognized that future of West was with barbarians Importance of Church hierarchy Latin Liturgical Reform Set the course for future of Catholicism in Europe Gave Europe a structure for unified religious practice and moral perspective

that would be needed to withstand the coming invasion from the South: Islam

27

European Debt Owed to Monasteries Both Irish and Western Mediterranean monasteries preserved

literacy for Europe Copying Scripture key work of monks Preserving works of Fathers important tasks Preserving Latin and Greek philosophy Replaced schools as places of learning

Missionary zeal flowed out from monasteries ‘Democratic’ institutions Preserved and developed art Oasis from turmoil of political and social disruption (dark ages)

associated with fall of Roman Empire in West

28

Timeline