“Jerome describes the life of three kinds of Egyptian Monks: Cśnobites, Anchorites and Remoboth - original Latin Text with English translation”
From Letter 22 (sections 34-35) to Eustochium.
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34. As I have mentioned the monks, and know that you like to hear about holy things, lend an ear to me for a few moments. There are in Egypt three classes of monks. First, there are the cśnobites, called in their Gentile language Sauses, or, as we should say, men living in a community. Secondly, there are the anchorites, who live in the desert, each man by himself, and are so called because they have withdrawn from human society. Thirdly, there is the class called Remoboth, a very inferior and little regarded type, peculiar to my own province, or, at least, originating there. These live together in twos and threes, but seldom in larger numbers, and are bound by no rule; but do exactly as they choose. A portion of their earnings they contribute to a common fund, out of which food is provided for all. In most cases they reside in cities and strongholds; and, as though it were their workmanship which is holy, and not their life, all that they sell is extremely dear. They often quarrel because they are unwilling, while supplying their own food, to be subordinate to others. It is true that they compete with each other in fasting; they make what should be a private concern an occasion for a triumph. In everything they study effect: their sleeves are loose, their boots bulge, their garb is of the coarsest. They are always sighing, or visiting virgins, or sneering at the clergy; yet when a holiday comes, they make themselves sick—they eat so much.
35. Having then rid ourselves of these as of so many plagues, let us come to
that more numerous class who live together, and who are, as we have said, called
Cśnobites. Among these the first principle of union is to obey superiors and to
do whatever they command. They are divided into bodies of ten and of a hundred,
so that each tenth man has authority over nine others, while the hundredth has
ten of these officers under him. They live apart from each other, in separate
cells. According to their rule, no monk may visit another before the ninth hour;
except the deans8 above mentioned, whose office is to comfort, with soothing
words, those whose thoughts disquiet them. After the ninth hour they meet
together to sing psalms and read the Scriptures according to usage. Then when
the prayers have ended and all have sat down, one called the father stands up
among them and begins to expound the portion of the day. While he is speaking
the silence is profound; no man ventures to look at his neighbor or to clear his
throat. The speaker’s praise is in the weeping of his hearers. Silent tears roll
down their cheeks, but not a sob escapes from their lips. Yet when he begins to
speak of Christ’s kingdom, and of future bliss, and of the glory which is to
come, every one may be noticed saying to himself, with a gentle sigh and
uplifted eyes: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away and
be at rest.” After this the meeting breaks up and each company of ten goes with
its father to its own table. This they take in turns to serve each for a week at
a time. No noise is made over the food; no one talks while eating. Bread, pulse
and greens form their fare, and the only seasoning that they use is salt. Wine
is given only to the old, who with the children often have a special meal
prepared for them to repair the ravages of age and to save the young from
premature decay. When the meal is over they all rise together, and, after
singing a hymn, return to their dwellings. There each one talks till evening
with his comrade thus: “Have you noticed so-and-so? What grace he has! How
silent he is! How soberly he walks!” If any one is weak they comfort him; or if
he is fervent in love to God, they encourage him to fresh earnestness. And
because at night, besides the public prayers, each man keeps vigil in his own
chamber, they go round all the cells one by one, and putting their ears to the
doors, carefully ascertain what their occupants are doing. If they find a monk
slothful, they do not scold him; but, dissembling what they know, they visit him
more frequently, and at first exhort rather than compel him to pray more. Each
day has its allotted task, and this being given in to the dean, is by him
brought to the steward. This latter, once a month, gives a scrupulous account to
their common father. He also tastes the dishes when they are cooked, and, as no
one is allowed to say, “I am without a tunic or a cloak or a couch of rushes,”
he so arranges that no one need ask for or go without what he wants. In case a
monk falls ill, he is moved to a more spacious chamber, and there so attentively
nursed by the old men, that he misses neither the luxury of cities nor a
mother’s kindness. Every Lord’s day they spend their whole time in prayer and
reading; indeed, when they have finished their tasks, these are their usual
occupations. Every day they learn by heart a portion of Scripture. They keep the
same fasts all the year round, but in Lent they are allowed to live more
strictly. After Whitsuntide they exchange their evening meal for a midday one;
both to satisfy the tradition of the church and to avoid overloading their
stomachs with a double supply of food. A similar description is given of the
Essenes by Philo, Plato’s imitator; also by Josephus, the Greek Livy, in his
narrative of the Jewish captivity. |
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Monks
Eustochium
Cśnobites
Coenobites
Anchorites
Remoboth
Epistola XXII
Epistula
Jerome letters
ascetic, asceticism, monastic, monasticism
Migne Latin Text
Patrologiae Latinae Cursus Completus
Patrologia Latina