The Monastic Rules of Visigothic Iberia - eTheses Repository ...

ground at the set times. 63 Furthermore, the other monastic rules make it clear that spiritual
reflection in the form of prayer, chanting or meditation was expected from a monk
throughout the day outside formal synaxes. 64
Outside the office, monks would come together during mealtimes and for assembly,
and both of these activities could also include aspects of the opus Dei. The assembly, which
Isidore advised took place three times a week, was a time often given to listening to readings
of the Church Fathers and the Bible and group learning, 65 whilst in the Common Rule, the
monks are to meet once a week on Sundays before Mass in order to be scrutinised spiritually
by the abbot. 66 Mealtimes, moreover, were a time both for eating and for fasting or
abstinence from wine, continuing a monk‟s dedication to God. A monk‟s year was divided
between times of varied dining practice, and the monastic rules set out clearly the necessary
schedules of fasting. 67 It was also the case that on certain festival days, for example, meat
was permitted, whilst other times of the year the monks lived off a rather meagre diet. 68
2.6 The Opus Manuum
Notwithstanding spiritual labour, the monastic rules reflect on matters focussed
pragmatically on the physical work of a monk, the opus manuum. Since the earliest Desert
63 Common Rule 10.
64 For example, Rule of Isidore 5, “Monachi operantes meditare uel psallare debent ut carminis
uerbique dei delectactione consolentur ipsum laborem”; Rule of Fructuosus 6, “cum operantur non
inter se fabulas uel cachinnos cosnerant siue luxurientur; sed operantes intra se recitent taciti. Illi
uero qui pausant, aut psallant aliquid aut reicitent pariter”.
65 Rule of Isidore 7.
66 Common Rule 13.
67 For example, Rule of Fructuosus 18; Rule of Isidore 9.
68 Thus Rule of Isidore 9, “Per omnem autem hebdomadam fratres uiles olerum cibos ac pallentia
utantur legumina. Diebus uero sanctis interdum cum oleribus leuissimarum carnium aliementa”.
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