Monk

Christian clergy are divided into two types, canons and monks.  Monks are religious men. Monks live apart from everyday society to work and/or live with a deliberate spirituality shunning the profane world. They live collectively in monasteries, which are also called abbeys. Most monks are not priests, and thus do not perform tasks that Roman canons do. Since the British Church does not have canons, their monks perform those priestly duties.

Monks are not all the same. They are divided into different organizations, called orders, whose objectives and ways of life differ from each other. Two monastic orders dominate the abbeys of Britain: the Russet Monks and the Black Monks. Several lesser orders are also found, and more will appear over time.

Monks are trained and progress through several steps. Many go through the process but do not undertake the final ordination that pledges them to their religious vows and a full-time commitment to their order. Many monks do not take this final step, but still learn what the order teaches and are part of the order. They often find a way outside of the monasteries, especially as clerks for the many secular lords who need them.

The most obvious difference between the British and Roman orders is their haircuts. The Roman monks shave the entire top of the head, leaving a fringe of hair around the edge. The British monks shave the side of their head, and leave a triangle on the top with the single point facing forward, making it look like a single lock of hair over their foreheads.

## Priories and Cells

A priory is a group of monks too few to be a monastery, and which is usually a daughter house to the monastery from which the original monks came. These are common and too numerous to list. Most baronies have at least a priory located on their home estate.

A cell is a single monk, who lives in seclusion, usually supported by a local lord to pray for him and his family. These are also called hermits.

## Fighting Clergy

The Bible forbids any man of God to shed blood. Nonetheless in Britain at this time a number of clergy either disobey this deliberately, or just as likely are ignorant of it. Those who willingly disobey use maces, not swords, because a mace is less likely to draw blood. Those who don’t know any better bear swords if they have them, or any other weapon they have laid their hands upon. These men tend to be found in groups. Bishops and abbots generally disallow this practice within their fellowship. If they turn a blind eye then their institution would attract those priests and monks who bear arms. A couple of bishops bear arms themselves and likely have fighting followers who do likewise.

## Entering the Order

An aristocratic person can choose to enter a religious order at any time, as long as they are willing to take the vows. Old warriors who can no longer fight, young children fostered to the monastery, and daughters who have no prospects for a good marriage are the most common entrants. Peasants may become servants of the monastery, but cannot become monks except in very extraordinary circumstances.

## Monastic Life

Monasteries and convents can be found throughout Europe, ranging in size from tiny holds with only a few members to large stone structures that dominate the landscape and those who live nearby. Some monasteries are isolated from society while others fully take part in daily life and even have small villages of lay people develop around them. Monasteries are also important in international trade. Goods produced in monasteries are found throughout Europe and rare items from far-flung ports often find their way to monasteries.

Monks take a vow of poverty, which means they have no personal possessions. The monastery as an institution, however, could accumulate vast amounts of wealth. The vow of chastity means the monk abstains from sexual relations. The vow of stability requires the monk to remain at one monastery. The vow of obedience means the monk agrees to follow the orders of the head of their house.

It is common to see the title of “prior.” In Dark Ages Europe, a prior is not necessarily a specific title, but rather a term used to describe any of the leading members of a monastery.

### The Monastic Offices

The primary duty of monks is to pray for the world and they do so through “offices,” also called the Liturgy of the Hours. The offices are: matins with lauds, usually around 2 a.m.; prime, the first hour of the day, around 6 am; tierce, the third hour of the day, around 9 am; sext, the sixth hour of the day, around noon; nones, the ninth hour of the day, around 3 pm; vespers, around nightfall; and compline, which occurs just before bedtime.

### Other Duties

Monks also work around the monastery pursuant to their skills. Some monks are scholars, dutifully transcribing and translating manuscripts. Others work the fields, providing food for the monastery and also for trade. Others produce goods to be used by other monks or for trade.

### Monastery Hierarchy

Just as in other facets of Dark Ages life, there is a hierarchy in a monastery.

* The abbot is the father for life of the community. All monks obey him without question or delay. He is sometimes seconded in his duties by a provost.
* The provost is second in command. The position can also be referred to as a dean or prior.
* The hospitaller ensures the service in the hostel, and carefully plans welcoming ceremonies. Other monks and servants assist him in his task.
* The almoner is in charge of the chaplaincy and cares for the sick of the neighborhood once per week, helped by a few servants. In prosperous monasteries, the almoner also organizes food distribution to the poor. Clothes worn by monks for more than a year are given away.
* The bursar is in charge of the clothing, the bedding, and the lighting. He is authorized to collect the rent money from the abbey’s lands and dues in kind.
* The cellarer is in charge of the storeroom and has a flock of subordinates. The refectory monk directs the service in the refectory; the loft monk supervises the corn lofts, the water mill and the bakery; the constable runs the stables, and the gardener takes care of the vegetable gardens and the orchard.
* The sacristan is the officer responsible for the church and the liturgical furniture. The preacher is master of ceremonies and librarian. The precentor is the choirmaster.
* The infirmarian cares for the sick and performs the ritual bleeding of healthy monks for the Annunciation Day. The most accepted treatment against illnesses consisted of feeding the sick with meat.
* Nuns, just like monks, are served by lay sisters, but male priests serve as chaplains.