2. THE LIFE OF A MONK IN EARLY CHRISTIAN IRELAND

3. WHAT IS A MONK? Think, Pair and Share

4. A MONK  A man or woman who went into lonely places ‘to pray and contemplate the mysteries of religion’.  Greek word ‘monos’ meaning alone.

5. THE LIFE OF A MONK  The monks had a harsh life – praying privately and together.  They studied and worked on the land and in the monastery workshops.  Many worked as:  Blacksmiths, making and mending ploughs, axes.  Carpenters making carts and wheels.  Masons shaping stones / stone carving.  others worked in corn-drying kilns grinding wheat and oats into flour.

6. THE LIFE OF A MONK  Monks were only allowed two meals per day and very little sleep. In stricter monasteries they were only allowed one meal of bread and vegetables.  They only had a vegetarian diet. Some monasteries allowed fish.  Most drank only water.  They ate little or nothing on Wednesdays and Fridays and during Lent.  If a monk broke the rules, they were severely punished and had to endure extra fasts and extra long periods of prayer.

7. WHAT DID MONKS DO?  Obeyed Rule of St Benedict  Prayed, worked, ate & slept together  Vows of poverty & chastity  4 types or orders: Benedictines, Cluniacs, Cistercians & Carthusians (silent) A monk at work on an illuminated manuscript

8. WHAT WERE THE VOWS THAT MONKS MADE?  Spend his life in the service of God  Give away his property to others  Obey the abbot at all times  Wear a habit and sandals and have a tonsure  Stay in the monastery throughout his life  Remain celibate

9. WHO WORKED IN THE MONASTERY?  Abbot – Christ’s representative  Monks – services, prayers  Novices - trainees  Lay brothers – estate workers  Obedientaries - servants Obedientaries Glastonbury Abbey

10. WHAT DID THE MONKS DO DURING THE DAY?  Daily round of prayers & servicesprayers & services  Special festivals, e.g. Christmas, Easter Day & Saints Days  Prayers for souls of wealthy patrons  Reading & illuminating  Daily meetings in chapter house Fountains Abbey

11. WHERE DID THEY WORK AND LIVE?

12. A MONKS TYPICAL DAY  Rose very early for prayer, Matins.  Put on brown habit  Prayed in church throughout the day  Mass held every day in church  Ate three meals in refectory  Ate usually in silence  A monk read aloud from scriptures  All food produced on monastery farm  Had own job to do  Went to bed at 8pm  Last prayer in church called Compline

13. PRAYERS AND SERVICES ServiceTime Night office / Matins 12am PrimeDawn TerceMid-morning Sext12pm NoneMid-afternoon Vespers Late afternoon ComplineDusk

14. CLOTHING OF A MONK  Very basic and consisted of an inner tunic and an outer casual which had a hood.  Wore large cloaks in the winter, leather sandals on their feet and carried staffs when travelling.  Irish monks had great concern with hygiene and washed frequently.  European monks wore a tonsure (religious symbol). This was a small patch of hair cut from the middle of the head.  Irish monks shaved front part of the head and allowed hair growth at the back.  Irish monks also decorated themselves with feathers / tattoos.

15. WRITE AN ESSAY ON A MONK IN A MONASTERY IN EARLY CHRISTIAN IRELAND

16. ESSAY POINTS  Reasons for becoming a monk.  The main buildings in the monastery.  Their daily life/ activities.  What happened when monastery came under attack.

17. KEYWORDS  ChurchRound towerScriptorium  Beehive hutsHigh CrossesVikings  TunicFarmingWriting  ManuscriptsScribeBook of Kells  Ardagh ChaliceOratoryAbbot  FiligreeHigh CrossesRefectory  Daily routineNoviceTonsure