The Benedictine Order
Founded in the 6th century by Benedict of Nursia, the Benedictine Order of monks focused closely on prayer, reading of scripture, and manual labor. Prayer was a monk's first priority and the smaller Benedictine monasteries were self-sufficient. During the early and high medieval ages, the leaders of these monasteries and abbeys would have control over vast landholdings donated by the faithful who had passed on and wanted prayers from the monks for their souls in purgatory.
The Benedictine monasteries grew from there, having guest houses, large store-houses, out-buildings, and scriptoriums for creating Bibles and prayer books. The monks within also had varied tasks including preparing medicine, reading, lettering, farming, gardening, cheese making, copying, and of course praying.
Because of the efficiency, Benedictine Monasteries became huge collections of books and knowledge. Books were copied, traded, and moved and many second and third sons would join as monks to broaden their knowledge and seek churchly wealth and opportunities. Because of this, Benedictine monks and their Abbots, Bishops, and Deacons became sinfully rich, causing the Gregorian Reforms of monastic life in the mid-12th century. This lead to several successive orders including Cistercian, Cluniac, Franciscan, and Capuchin orders.
During Syres' time, monasteries were constantly changing, reforming, and when Syres is first exposed to monastic life in Western Europe, they are Benedictine monks in the 10th century, Normandy. A small group of pilgrims had come from Italy with their abbot. They appeal to the great Duke Richard the Fearless to dedicate an old Roman villa turned monetary that has been abandoned as the site for their new monastery. It was founded and rebuilt, finished, and ornamented upon the departure of William the Conquerer in the mid-11th century. This Monastery, as it is known today is Jumieges Abbey.
Type
Religious, Monastic Order
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