Lindsay Rudge PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Commemoratio genealogiae domni Karoli gloriosissimi imperatoris, is almost certainly
legendary. 167
The rule is dedicated to the bishop of Die, Lucrecius, from whom Ferreolus had
gained permission to write the rule. 168 Ferreolus’ comments to Lucrecius provide an
insight into one way in which monastic texts could be altered over time. Deferring to
Lucrecius’ wider knowledge of monastic life, he gives the latter complete freedom to
make such changes as he sees fit on receipt of the rule: ‘If the judgement of your
knowledge finds that there are things which are too hard and severe, or on the contrary
too generous and too soft, the text should receive corrections by your hand, in order to
suit those to whom it is destined.’ 169 For Ferreolus, this was also a guarantee against
blame for any errors in the work: it would be Lucrecius’ fault as much as his own, if the
Rule were subsequently found to be problematic in terms of content. 170 As importantly,
however, this exquisitely formal recording of a permission granted also underlines the
authority that each bishop was expected to have over monastic houses in their own
diocese. Religious houses were organised according to their own written rule or rules,
and supervised by their bishop, however loosely or stringently; other than those canons
promulgated at regional synods or quasi-national church councils, there was no
overarching supervision of individual monasteries’ way of life. This state of affairs would
have particular relevance when attempts at reform were essayed.
Among the most interesting elements of the Regula virginum which are used by
Ferreolus are those on reading and entry to the monastery. As in the Regula virginum,
the Regula Ferreoli provided for a year’s postulancy before formal entry (Regula
virginum 4, although in turn, Caesarius had himself based this on canon four of the
Institutes of Cassian) and the reading of the rule to the new entrant to ensure a thorough
167 I. Wood, ‘Genealogy defined by women: the case of the Pippinids’, in L. Brubaker and J.M.H. Smith
(eds.) Gender in the Early Medieval World: East and West, 300-900 (Cambridge, 2004) 234-256, at 242-3.
168 Reg. Ferreoli, praefatio.
169 In qua si quid severitate durum, si quid remissione mollissimum judicio scientiae adjudicaveritis,
censuram manus vestrae pagina melius in quo diligetur placitura recipiet. PL 66: 960.
170 Reg. Ferreoli, praefatio: Si vero, ut credo, judicium amoris operam veram infligere dignetur correctione
litterae, quidquid demum ineptum lectio incastigata protulerit, liberum a culpa erit erroris, cum libellum
vestrae me constat subdidisse censurae. PL 66: 960.
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