The beginnings of monasticsm Text pg 81 88 In this Chapter Monasticism Defining monasticism The appeal of the monastic life Contributions of monasticism to civilization Timeline 300 ID: 550157
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Slide1
Holiness in the Wilderness
The beginnings of monasticsm
Text
pg. 81-
88 Slide2
In this Chapter…
Monasticism:Defining monasticismThe appeal of the monastic life
Contributions of monasticism to civilizationSlide3
Timeline
300
Antony of Egypt establishes a group of hermits
313
Constantine legalizes Christianity in Edict of Milan
325
Council of
Nicaea writes the Nicene Creed
350
Basil develops his monastic rule
374
Ambrose is made bishop in Milan
380
Jerome translates the Bible into Latin
400
Augustine writes his
Confessions
400
Church settles on books in the Christian canon
420
Rome
falls to the Goths
445
Leo the Great
becomes pope
451
Council of Chalcedon affirms Jesus’ human and divine natures. Slide4
asceticism
From
the Greek:
ἄσκησις
áskēsis
, "
exercise" or "training"
The
practice of denying oneself pleasure in hopes that through this denial of self, one will grow in self-control and be better able to imitate Jesus.Slide5
Monasticism
from Greek
μον
αχός,
monachos
, derived from μόνος,
monos
,
“alone”
a religious
way of life that involves renouncing
worldly
pursuits to fully devote one's self to
prayer & spiritual
work
.Slide6
Monasticism: Introduction
Started in North Africa, and later grew int
o
the wastelands of Syria and
Palestine
A new
form of Christian witness was evolving. The goal of monasticism was to follow Jesus by retreating from everyday life in the world in order to find truth in the silence of the wilderness
VideoSlide7
Monasticism: Introduction
Monastics took inspiration and examples from Moses, the prophets, and Jesus. Examples from the Bible: Moses finding God in the burning bush in the wilderness;
Jesus in the desert when he was being tempted by the devil.Slide8
Antony of Egypt
Religious pioneer. When he was 18, his parents died. He then had to take care of their farm and his sister. One day he was thinking of how the Apostles sold all of their things and gave the money to the poor.
Antony was inspired by a passage from Luke;
“Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Luke 18:22)
He sold
t
he farm, gave the money to the poor, found his sister a group of Christian women to live with, and went out to the wilderness. (approx. 270AD
)
VideoSlide9
Antony of egypt
When Antony was older, many young people looked to him as an example. People were inspired by his wisdom
People began to join him and the community grew.
As he grew old, he felt God calling him to withdraw further into the wilderness.
He died at his final hermitage on a mountain in the depths of the Egyptian desert.Slide10
Selections from the
Sayings of the Desert FathersConsidered wisdom literature
Written by the early ascetics including Antony (Anthony) of Egypt.
Themes: monasticism, asceticism, prayer, holiness, wisdom.
“Abba Anthony” –
abba
is the familiar word for father (
amma is for mother). These titles were given to some of the men and women who practiced desert asceticism.Slide11
Selections from the
Sayings of the Desert FathersOn Loving God: “I no longer fear God, but I love Him. For love casts out fear.”
On Fearing God: “
Always have the fear of God before your eyes.
Rememeber
Him who gives death and life. Hate the world and all that is in it. Hate all the peace that comes from the flesh. Renounce this life, so that you may be alive in God.”
On bearing good fruit: “
Man is like a tree, bodily asceticism is the foliage, interior vigilance is the fruit.
On perfect charity:
“If I could meet a leper, give him my body and take his, I should be very happy.”Slide12
Basil
Early monastic life sometimes got eccentric and obsessive.and with harsh practises in order to free them from their “demons”
Ex. Self-mortification
Monastics followed their own ideas of what would lead them to holiness.
Basil, a teacher who became a hermit,
recognized that this was problematic.
He developed a “monastic rule” to guide
Monastics in their way of life.Slide13
Basil’s monastic rule
Own almost nothingEat only what is necessary
Obey the abbot of the monastery
The Abbot: (the father/leader of the monastery) his role was to lead monastics in following the Gospel in their everyday life.Slide14
JEROME
Another 4th century monkHe grew up as a pagan in northern Italy and went to Rome.
where he was educated in both Latin and Greek
When he was 18, he followed the example of his Catholic mother.
Then he went to the desert to become a hermit.
H
e studied Hebrew.
He studied more and more and eventually became the popes secretary. Slide15
Bible TRANSLATION
The pope wanted Jerome to translate Christian testaments into Latin, the language of most people in the west.He eventually traveled to Bethlehem where he built a monastery for religious men and convents for women.
In Bethlehem, he continued to translate the bible, with help from his students and Jewish rabbis nearby.
It took 15 years to complete.
Why is this such a significant contribution to society?Slide16
St. benedict
480-547CEBegan a monastery at Monte Cassino
Developed a rule for monastics called:
Spirit of the rule:
pax
& “pray & work”
Recognized the needs of monks in
community:
Order
Relationship
Spiritual guide
Spiritual growth
VideoSlide17
8
th century copy of benedict’s ruleSlide18
Conclusion
After Christianity was legalized, there was a burst of growth in the church. Monasticism was extremely popular and has had a huge impact on society (even today!) Lots of people helped shape the church and lead as examples (Anthony, Basil, Augustine, Ambrose, Benedict
)
List of
Catholic religious orders