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

Fathers, physical labour had been associated with asceticism, often as a theological reaction
to the importance of physical hardship in a monk‟s life (Ward 2003: x-xi). Take, for
example, the reply of the third-century ascete John the Dwarf upon being asked the purpose
of being a monk: ἑαπηνλ βίαδεζζαη (Gould 1993: 98). This was a notion that continued into
the Visigothic period. Isidore, for example, advised: “per otium enim libidinis et noxiarum
cogitationum nutrimenta concrescunt, per laboris exercitium uitia nihilominus elabuntur.
Nequaquam debet dedignare uersari in opere aliquo monasterii usibus necessario”. 69 The
connection between Christian humility and manual labour in the Bible was also commented
upon frequently by various figures in the early Church and in early monastic circles (Ovitt
1987). Indeed, reference to the physical jobs of biblical figures is often made in support of
the idea that a monk should be occupied with physical work. Isidore, for example, cites the
Bible when he warns: “qui non uult laborare non manducet”, 70 whilst the Common Rule
warns its audience not to complain in the face of tending flocks, referring them to the manual
jobs of Joseph and the Disciples. 71 Isidore continues: “si igitur tantae auctoritatis homines in
laboribus et operibus etiam rusticanis inseruierunt, quanto magis monachi quibus opportet
non solum uitae suae necessaria propriis manibus exhibere, sed etiam indigentiam aliorum
laboribus suis reficere”. 72
69 Rule of Isidore 5.
70 2 Thessalonians 3.10, Rule of Isidore 5, “Monachus operetur semper manibus suis ita ut quibuslibet
uariis opificum artibus laboribusque studium suum inpedat, sequens Apostolorum qui dicit: neque
panem gratis manducauimus, sed in labore et fatigatione nocte et die operantes. Et iterum: qui non
uult laborare non manducet”.
71 Common Rule 9, “quia patriarchae greges pauerunt et Petrus piscatoris gessit officium et Ioseph
iustus, cuius uirgo Maria desponsata exstitit, faber lignarius fuit”. Note the similarity to the Rule of
Isidore 5, “Nam patriarchae greges pauerunt et gentiles philosophi sutores et sartores fuerunt et
Ioseph iustus, cuius uirgo Maria disponsata extitit faber ferrarius fuit”.
72 Rule of Isidore 5.
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