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

part of a monk‟s diet due to the otherwise poor agricultural conditions. 83 The consumption of
meat, however, was regulated. Vegetarianism was an important issue for early Christianity,
and had been linked especially to Priscillianism (Ferreiro 2008), and its practice was rooted
primarily in a search for corporeal purity, rather than animal welfare; 84 Fructuosus, for
example, still permits the eating of fish and meat, as does Isidore. Isidore permitted only a
very small amount on Saint‟s Days and, even then, abstinence from meat was still
permissible. At other times, a monk‟s diet was to be vegetables and beans. 85 An exception to
this was a sick monk, who was permitted “delicatiora [...] alimenta”, which probably
included meat. 86 The Common Rule is not explicit about the consumption of meat, although
the notion that it was limited is suggested by the fact that the elderly monks were expressly
permitted it due to their old age. 87 The Rule of Fructuosus is more forthright in its
vegetarianism: “carnem cuiquam nec gustandi neque sumendi est concessa licentia”. 88
Fructuosus makes reference to a theological point of force behind vegetarianism, noting that
the practice was “utilis et apta”, whilst at the same time acknowledging the need for
flexibility, especially if a monk is travelling, sick or in the presence of guests. 89 If a monk
violated this order, he was subject to confinement to his cell and penance for six months.
83 Common Rule 9, “et insuper uix tribus mensibus per pleraque monasteria abundarentur, si sola
cotidiana fuissent paxamacia in hac prouincia plus omnibus terris laboriosa”.
84 Note, for example, Isidore of Seville De ecclesiasticiis officiis 1.65, “Non igitur quia carnes malae
sunt, ideo prohibentur, sed quia earum epulae carnis luxuriam gignunt, fomes enim ac nutrimentum
omnium uitiorum, esca uentri, et uenter escis”
85 Rule of Isidore 9, “Per omnem autem hebdomadam fratres uiles olerum cibos ac pallentia utantur
legumina. Diebus uero sanctis interdum cum oleribus leuissimarum cranium alimenta [...]
Quicumque ad mensam residens carnibus uel uino abstinere uoluerit non est prohibendus”.
86 Rule of Isidore 22.
87 Common Rule 8, “et carnes et uinum propter imbecillitatem moderate eis praebeantur”.
88 Rule of Fructuosus 5.
89 Rule of Fructuosus 5, “Non quod creaturam dei iudicemus indignam, sed quod carnis abstinentia
utilis et apta monachis extimetur, seruato tamen moderamine pietatis erga aegrotorum necessitudines
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