Western History 67: What were some of the noteworthy Monastic Orders?

By the 11^th century the Roman Catholic Church had virtually a monopolistic hold of all Christian belief in Western Europe. The Eastern Orthodox Churches enjoyed sway in the East since the East-West Schism of 1054. Monastic orders dedicated to a cloistered ascetic life had been a dominant feature of the Christian landscape since the founding of Christian monasticism by Saint Anthony the Great. Monastic traditions were not unique to Christianity (indeed one could argue that the Essenes associated with Judaism were Monastic in spirit) and existed in the Celtic world going back to the Roman Empire.

Irish Christianity is very much associated with a Monastic core as is the Christianity of Wales, Scotland and Cornwall.

However it is the great Monastic orders of the continent that were particularly influential in not only spearheading the Missionary drive but acting as repositories for medical development, text writing, musical innovation (eg. Gregorian chants) and the refinement of Alcohol (oh..those Trappist Monks).

Some key orders that developed were:

• Benedictine – Founded in 529 at Monte Cassino. Known for their self-sufficiency.
• Carthusians – Order open to both sexes. Founded by St. Bruno of Cologne.
• Cistercians – Order of St. Bernard. Set up by Robert Molesme in 1098.
• Clunicians – Very influential order during the Crusader time period.
• Hieronymites – Order of Saint Jerome. Founded in Spain in the 14th century. Favoured Hermitic based life.