The Emergence of Monasticism: From the Desert Fathers to the Early Middle Ages

290 Pages·2001·16.41 MB·English

by  Marilyn Dunn

The Emergence of
Monas ticism
From the Desert Fathers
to the
Early Middle Ages
Marilyn Dunn
Blackwell
Publishing

Tbe EmeTgence of Monasticism

The Emergence of
Monast icisrn
From the Desert Fathers
to the
Early Middle Ages
Marilyn Dunn
Blackwell
Publishing
0 2000,2003 by Marilyn Durn
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First published 2000 by Blaclcwell Publishers Ltd, a Blaclcwell Publishing company
First published in paperback 2003
Library of Congyess Cataloging-in-PublicationD ata
Dunn, Marilyn.
The emergence of monasticism: from the Desert Fathers to the early Middle Ages /
Marilyn Dunn.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0431-13463-8 (hardcover: allc. paper)-ISBN 14051-0641-7 (paperback)
1. Monastic and religious life-History-Early church, ca. 30-600. I. Title.
BRl95.M65 D86 2001
271’.009’015-dc21 00-057905
A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
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Printed and bound in the United Kingdom
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Contents
heface vi-vii
Last of Abbnwaataons Viii
The Emergence of Christian Eremitism 1
The Development of Communal Life 25
Women in Early Monasticism 42
The Meaning of Asceticism 59
The Evolution of Monasticism in the West 82
The Rule of St Benedict and its Itahan Setting 111
Britain and Ireland 138
Irish penyini and European Monasticism 158
England in the Seventh Century 191
Notes 209
Select Bablao~~aphy 251
Index 275
Preface
Early monastic hstory is a uniquely complex subject. No other area of
history potentially covers so many dxiplines and areas, intellectual and
geographical. It can extend itself over the study of hstory (political,
religious, social and economic), theology, liturgy, archaeology, phdoso-
phy, religious studes, gender studies, sociology and anthropology. The
widely differing methodologies and approaches whch exist may be
sampled across the great range of journals in whch it is possible to read
about monastic issues from Revue Be’ne’dietinea nd Stadia Monastiea on
one hand, through periodicals such as the Jouvnal of Eavly Chvistian
Hastovy and Semeia, to Annales on the other. Yet for all the great weight
of interpretation whch can be brought to bear on monastic history, there
sdl exists a major &vide between those who are perceived as ‘monastic
historians’ and other historians and theorists, a gulf which separates those
whose approach is primarily textual and liturgical from those who work
with, in and from other dxiplines. Ths book represents, as far as is
possible withn the obvious constraints of a chronological framework, a
first attempt to examine monasticism in the light of the great variety of
relevant approaches. Its worlung title was ‘Out of the Desert’ - a title by
whch I had hoped not only to pay tribute to the nuanced and compelling
ideas which are emerging from the study of Egyptian monasticism but
also to indcate that the book follows the broad trajectory of the most
important aspects of monastic development from the fourth to the seventh
centuries rather than being an exhaustive or region- by-region survey.
One of the primary problems for the historian worlung in ths field is the
nature of monastic literature itself. A large part of the purpose of monastic
texts is to look back to earlier days of monasticism and beyond that the
Bible. The constant repetition ofsections talcen from earlier works is one of
the most noticeable features of monastic writing - especially monastic rules
l’yeface Vii
- in whch the search for perfection was always accompanied by the
perception of earlier wisdom and the desire to maintain orthodox track
tion. It is, perhaps, easier to see where each piece of writing stands in
monastic tradition than to see where it is going in terms of monastic
development. Here, I have attempted to place such writings in context.
Some areas have proved or will prove controversial, but I have always
maintained that history moves forward by debate and ddectic and hope
that it may be conducted in an open and civilized manner.
I would lke to express thanks to those who have helped and supported
me in writing ths book. To Tony Goodman, for suggesting I write it in
the first place and to John Davey for commissioning it. To a number of
colleagues and friends in a variety of dxiplines, particularly Donald
Bullough, Thomas Clancy, Gary Dickson, Judth George, kchard Rose
and Alex Woolf, for advice, discussion, encouragement and criticism.
None of them should be blamed for any view expressed here. To Craig
Fraser and Penny Galloway for practical help as well as moral support. To
many students for aslung dfficult questions and generally keeping me on
my toes. To the staff of a number of libraries, particularly those of
Glasgow and Edinburgh University Libraries, New College Library,
Edinburgh and the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
My greatest debt is to Michael Baron, who has sustained me over the
years in writing ths, providmg constant encouragement and assistance,
and to whom the book is dedcated.
MD
Abbreviations
AB Analecta Bollandaana
Annales ESC Annales. Economaes. Socae‘te’s. Cavalasataons.
cc
Covpus Chvastianovum
CSEL Covpus Scvaptovum Ecclesiae Latanae
EHR Ecclesaastacal Hastovy Review
JECS Jouvnal of Eavly Chvastaan Studies
JEH Jouvnal of Ecclesaastacal Hastovy
JMH Jouvnal of Medieval Hastovy
JRH Jouvnal of Relkaous Hastovy
JRS Jouvnal of Roman Studies
JTS Jouvnal of T%eologicalS mdies
PG Migne, Patvologaa Gvaeca
PL Migne, Patvologaa Latana
RAM Revue d’ilsce’tique et de Mystaque
RB Revue Be’n4dactane
REAug Revue des Etudes Augustinaennes
RHR Revue de L’Haktoave des Relkaons
RM Revue Maballon
sc Souvces Chve’taennes
SM Stadia Monastaca
TADMO McLaughlin T.P., Les Tv2s Ancaen Dvoat Monastaque de 1’
Occident Archives de la France Monastique, vol. XXXVIII
(Ligugi - Paris, 1935).
TRHS Tvansactaons of the Royal Hastovacal Society
vc
Vigalaae Chvastaanae
ZICG Zeatschvz$t fiiv ICavchengeschachte