History 288 Home | Schedule of Readings and Assignments

Readings:

Lives of Roman Christian Women, 60-70.
The Rule of Saint Benedict (written in the sixth century)

Basic Questions:

1. What passage(s) in the readings did you find particularly interesting? Why? What passage(s) did you not understand?

2. What do the readings reveal about what it meant to be a Christian?

3. What do the readings reveal about the nature of Christianity at the time in which they were produced?

Specific Questions:

4. Does Marcella's ascetic life have anything in common with the monastic life as organized in the Rule of Benedict? How does her life differ from Benedict's concept of monastic life?

5. Define within the context of the Rule of Benedict: divine office, oratory, novice.

6. Where does authority lie in a monastery governed by Benedict’s Rule?

7. What challenges would monks and abbots face in trying to live according to Benedict’s Rule? Be prepared to explain how you reached your conclusion.

8. According to Benedict, almost every aspect of a monk’s life should be carefully regulated. Why? What purpose was served by such thorough and rigorous control? Answer this question with reference to specific chapters of the Rule.

9. What do you think is a monk's chief virtue?

10. What do monks do?

11. Benedict considers silence an essential element of monastic living. Why? Answer this question by analyzing one or two chapters that emphasize the importance of silence.

12. How is monasticism a Christian way of life?

Terminology:

  • Work of God: communal prayer in the monastery. There are eight times for prayer: Lauds (prayer at dawn), Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers (evening prayer), Compline (prayer before going to bed), Vigils (in the night).
  • Lent: a season of fasting lasting forty days leading up to Easter.