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

which they are to trained in the way of life of the monastery, 140 and Isidore notes that they
were to eat alongside the monks. 141 The presence of children is also suggested in other
sources. Ildefonsus of Toledo, for example, mentions two monks called Iustus and Eugene,
who had both been brought up as children in the monastery of Agali. 142
Notwithstanding those who were dedicated to a religious life, Visigothic monasteries
were also occupied by other inhabitants. Lay members (laici) are accounted for, who worked
and lived alongside the monks and held specific responsibilities. Isidore, for example, notes
that fishing was a practice that belonged to lay people, who also had to grind corn. Monks
could then make the bread for themselves, but lay servants would also make bread for guests
and the sick. 143 Monks also worked alongside lay workers. For example, when building a
new chapel, one monastery needed to bring in hired workmen. 144 Sometimes they were
thought to have been a bad influence. Isidore, for example, mentions that secular workers
would sing “amatoria turpia” and tell stories whilst they worked, an act which monks should
rise above by meditating or chanting. 145 Isidore also notes that the laici were not permitted to
eat together with the monks. 146
140 Common Rule 6.
141 Rule of Isidore 9.
142 On the Lives of Famous Men 7, 12.
143 Rule of Isidore 21, “ars autem pistoria ad laicos pertinebit; ipsi enim triticum purgent, ipsi ex
more molant; massam tantumdem monachi conficiant et panem sibi propriis manibus ipsi faciant.
Porro hospitibus uel infirmis laici faciant panes”.
144 Valerius of Bierzo Replicatio 9.
145 Rule of Isidore 5, “Si enim saeculares opifices inter ipsos labores suorum operum amatoria turpia
cantare non desinunt atque ita ora sua in cantibus et fabulis implicant ut ab opere manus non
subtrahant, quanto magis seruui Christi qui sic minibus operare debent, ut semper laudem dei in ore
habeant et linguis eius psalmis et hymnis inseruiant”.
146 Rule of Isidore 9, “Laici ministri mensis monachorum nullatenus intereunt, neque enim poterit illis
mensae communis esse locus quibus est diuersus propositus”.
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