I want to take a little bit of time to look at the Benedictine monks. They lived in the Monastery that was connected to the cathedral and they dedicated their lives to prayer, learning and helping others.
The monks would have followed the Rule of Saint Benedict. It encouraged a life of worship, work and study. Their day started very early, before sunrise. They went to morning prayers in the cathedral but they also went several more times each day.
The monks came from many different backgrounds. Some were from ordinary families, while others came from wealthy or noble households. Some joined as boys to get an education, others chose the monastic life as adults. Once they became monks, they promised to live a life of prayer, obedience and simplicity.
Joining the monastery was not easy. Anyone who wanted to become a Benedictine monk had to first spend about a year as a novice. They had to learn the Rules of Saint Benedict and the daily routine. Only if both the monk and the monastery agreed would he take lifelong vows and become a full member of the community.
When they were not praying, the monks kept busy with many tasks. Some of them copied books like the bible and important documents by hand. At the time every page had to be written individually. This was skilled work because many people could not read or write. Some worked in the kitchens, gardens and workshops, others cared for the monastery's library and records.
Food was also important, they usually ate simple meals of bread, soup or stew, vegetables, cheese and fish. Much of it was grown or produced at the monastery by the monks themselves. They also had many fasting days during the year, when they were not allowed to eat meat from animals such as cows, sheep or pigs. Instead, they ate fish, eggs and other simple foods. The monks ate together in silence while one monk read from the Bible or other religious books.
The monastery played an important role in the community. Travellers and pilgrims could shelter there, the poor and sick were often helped, and they took education seriously. It was not just a place of faith and religion, it was also a place of learning and of charity.
This way of life continued until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in the 16th century. Although the monastery has sadly disappeared, Norwich Cathedral still stands as a reminder of the Benedictine monks.
What part of a medieval monk's life do you think would have been the most difficult?
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