What Did Medieval Monks Do All Day?

Did you ever wonder what medieval monks actually did all day long? Well, mystery solved: this excerpt from episode 13 of One Whirling Adventure opens the abbey door and lays out their day planner. See the rest of the episode, and the entire series, at www.lanecatholic.org/pages/join
And check out our other channel, One Whirling Adventure: / @onewhirlingadventure1122

[@quercus5398]

Many hungry and injured people,knocked on monastery’s doors for help. Monks would bake bread,and bring it to folks and exchange it with other things that was needed at the monastery, like fruits and vegetables etc. they received a lot of respect from the town folks,before watches,the monks would sound the bell so people in the fields knew the time.

[@Emperor_of_all_Badgers]

@Jimbo Bell because they lived and worked on the monstery's land

[@davidhoffman6391]

I was a monk for 11 years. It's a mixed bag like anything else, there's good and there's bad. I actually got a great education there, and it was for free. I feel endebted to them.

[@anpcpro]

David, how is this possible to stop being a monk? I thought it's a lifetime commitment.

[@davidhoffman6391]

@@anpcpro I quit just before final vows.

[@kerenstar13]

@@davidhoffman6391 why?

[@internetexplorer7303]

Do you happen to know the david hoffman that interviews people and takes pictures of historical moments

[@virgilflowers9846]

A Benedictine monk? Or Buddhist?

[@betinivinicius]

I like the respect and admiration for the monks. It's hard to see this kind of honesty towards the Catholic Church nowadays. Great job.

[@traviousandrews1015]

Well the church ain't that honest today lmao

[@kaliyuga1476]

@@traviousandrews1015 Thanks for proving his point

[@kaliyuga1476]

Yeah, being catholic nowadays is the new counterculture

[@ueau]

Yes much hate

[@lucy6422]

One thing that could be mentioned is that the monasteries provided material relief for those in need at a time when there was no social welfare. They also provided hospitality, especially for pilgrims. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in the 16th Century there was nowhere for the poor to seek assistance, resulting in the appalling workhouses which employed child labour for those who couldn't pay their debts. Two good books on this subject are: "The Medieval Machine" by Jean Gimpell and "How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization" by Thomas E. Woods Jr.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Agreed 👍🇬🇧

[@johnjon1823]

Completely correct. The ignorance of the wonderful works of charity and that much better solution is a profound loss of the "reformation" and the large abandonment of God for ideology. It took centuries to replace the monasteries and it finally resulted in the professional poverty industry we have today based entirely on materialistic philosophies in which the whole of the person is not helped. The mechanistic sociological approach fails to deliver the only thing which can liberate one from poverty and that is Christ Himself. Without Him one cannot conquer the vices, nor think with the wisdom God wishes us to have. In such a setting intergenerational poverty continues because one is doomed to live in a dysfunctional culture as are one's children. The lack of sufficient Christian influence means few can be rescued from the cycle, and the divisions in Christianity means the world will not believe, per Christ's prayer in the garden. Moral turpitude is not conducive to a productive and successful human flourishing. Living is the current society where the odor of Christianity has largely vanished and much of the salt has lost its savor we are impoverished in our plenty. Irony or ironies. Let us hope we can avoid utter collapse before so that the tide turns in time, or else we will likely see what Augustine saw only experience it in far worse ways. In times past, my poor Catholic School with limited resources and children from poverty of every race under the sun still performed in the 85th percentile having nothing more than tiny rooms with many children and one sister, and the Baltimore Catechism. People used to say then, how much nicer public schools were, all kinds of equipment, best educated and trained teachers, an actual school nurse, a nice auditorium and sports fields and all kinds of athletics. But none but their best and brightest could match our average student because we were made to work. We received discipline, every day. Catholic school preserved my faith, enabled me to graduate from college, succeed in business, and feed and educate a family like nothing else could have done. I laugh at the multicultural nonsense, we had Chinese, American Indian, Blacks, Spanish, Italian, Irish, Polish, and who knows what else. We didn't pay attention to such things as children because it didn't matter since everyone was a child of God. Best wishes!

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Henry VIII got rid of the monasteries because he wanted their land and possessions. What a horrible individual.

[@lucy6422]

@@johnjon1823 I also was taught by the Sisters of St Joseph - the order founded by St Mary MacKillop (Australia's first saint). We had next to nothing in the way of material resources, not even any heating and cooling, but we learnt the 3Rs and a good dose of religion. I am deeply grateful to those sisters who worked for nothing but the love of God. I still have my First Communion photo with 74 children in the class!

[@tedtimmis8135]

I was going to say the same thing but you said it better.

[@nachodiaz2221]

What almost EVERYONE doesn't know is that during the "dark age" the kings and royals had all the power and control of pretty much everything. It was after he monks and nuns decided to come out of their convents and monasteries that Europe came out of the dark ages. IT WAS THE TEACHINGS and guidance of monks and nuns that helped society to progress, NOT the governments.

[@ponzianomanning3071]

In addition to primarily being houses of prayer, Monasteries were the economic, academic and health care engines of their time, and in some parts of the world they still are today: St Mienrads in Indiana, St Vincents in PA, and many parts of Europe...

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Absolutely! And our hope is that Catholic religious communities will once again become the cultural engines of their communities. Thanks for watching!

[@miguelluissousadias1371]

@@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313 Salve, this is amazing, they produced scientists, tenders of the soul, farmers, scribes for document translation, preservtion of languages, etc they were authentic ofermadur. Gratias santissimi padre! Gratias institucione sanctissima et Deus est Louvatus!

[@el_aleman]

Good reason to tear them down and steal from them. What a horrible shame. If people want to be another religion fine, but what Henry VIII add Cromwell did was nothing short of wholesale crimes against humanity. In the end, Cromwell’s head was removed, Henry VIII died a slow painful death and the people of England who benefited from the monasteries became exploited by the wealthy and had to fend for themselves…

[@mosessupposes2571]

It’s a great business model to be able to take money from parishioners but not have any labor costs. That sure does enhance the odds of success.

[@joshuadarden7200]

These monks really helped improve life because of their sacrifice

[@joshuakeeney8797]

Excellent video! Well-rounded, honest, and insightful.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thank you kindly!

[@gljm]

What did Medieval Monks do all day? Monk-ey Business obviously !

[@ellenmarch3095]

Thank you. You made my night. 😂

[@caseyclover1647]

Heyy😂😂

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

Hahaha!

[@emperorpalpatine2531]

Ha! Good one!

[@wirebrushproductions1001]

You left out something important in discussing the accumulation of wealth by monasteries. They were often exempt from taxes to the local lord and to the king. This gave them a considerable advantage.

[@callsofscv]

But, they also lived lives of poverty and simplicity. The wealth was still put back into the economy.

[@californiaslastgasp6847]

You want religious organizations taxes?

[@wirebrushproductions1001]

Irrelevant. The Medieval Period ended about 600 years ago. Things were different, and so were churches. Churches no longer operate as major businesses. If they did, taxes would be appropriate.

[@williammcdonald5086]

Most monks were educated and thus were skilled at different trades so monasteries were able to generate profits with useful products. Also, the monasteries were able to keep learning alive. Members of the clergy were skilled in writing legal documents but employed their skills in managing the finances of many noblemen.

[@labla8940]

Ya we just watched the video

[@yannicks7481]

@@labla8940 💀

[@terrymarsalinas1882]

You've gained a subscriber from the Philippines. Great output.

[@marisYeaa]

That's a great review, thank you!

[@skiritiri3716]

yes

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Glad it was helpful!

[@isaiah3872]

I've always wondered if _all_ the monks prayed the Hours at once, considering the various forms manual labour they did during the day. Or perhaps some monks were exempt from one of the minor hours e.g. Nones

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

They persisted in the liturgy of the hours until their dying day. It was the rhythm of their life, and their family. As they aged or suffered disability, they were more likely to be excused from manual labor than prayer.

[@BpGregor]

In this day, starting in the 80's, some monks did not have to go to the church for the prayers but would pray the lessor, or minor hours, where they were but at the same time as if the were in the church. Minor hours are Prime (6am), Terce (9am), Sext (12 noon), and None (3pm). Lauds, Vespers, and Matins were prayed in church. Compline is not counted among the seven hours. In some monasteries Matins and Lauds are seen as one office because Lauds follows Matins with just a minor break of a few minutes.

[@gregsmith9690]

@@BpGregor Thanks for that explanation!

[@Oldparson220]

No monk was exempt. Those out in the fields far from the monestary would gather in small groups to offer the divine office. The small hours comprised 3 psalms , a passage from scripture and responsery and collect followed by a Pater and an Ave. This usually took no more than 10 minutes, as it would not be chanted like those in the church. That could take up to a half hour. All would/is relegated by the bell in the tower

[@clrobertson13]

I have read the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters and the monastic life, amidst the culture of 12th Century England, is very similar, if not identical, to what you have presented here. Cadfael was a Benedictine monk who came to the monastic life after having been a Crusader. I read the books for their historical value as much as for the (mostly) murder mysteries. Thank you for your excellent presentation!

[@martijnb5887]

But Cadfael had a tendency to run from his work for other jobs and stretching is permission to do so. Great stories written in beautiful English.

[@Zelda_Thorn]

i mean, this is a pretty rosy view. for much of history monasteries made profit because they were landowners who rented their lands to peasant farmers and then took a huge cut of what they produced.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thanks for watching, Zelda! I think that's exactly what I said in the video: in the pre-capitalist, agrarian world (before capital cash markets), wealth was in property. And monasteries were gifted property as endowments, to produce revenue (largely through tenants). The land was owned by a nobleman, for example, and the tenant rents went to him. Now they went to the monastery. And, if you watched the video, the whole point was that every few generations, that wealth caused a loosening of discipline, a laxness of morals. Which is why every few generations reformers came along and branched off to start new monastic orders. And, as I said at the end, the reform-wealth-reform cycle would be reset. Subscribe, and check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@warreneckels4945]

@Rose Rose Sometimes. The fat and lazy monk was a cultural touchstone. Then a reform would hit, the order would split, and the new, purer order would set up shop. Another revenue stream was less savory: simony. In return for a donation, monks would pray that your sins be absolved. So if you went off to a Crusade against the infidel, but got carried away and massacre some Christians or commit crimes against civilians, the monks back home would pray away your sin and you could go to Heaven in the likely event that you died. This made monasteries very lootable when the local sovereign went Protestant or the Vikings/Tatars showed up.

[@user-uy8wx4pk4h]

You sound gay

[@tedtimmis8135]

Excellent video!

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thank you, Ted! Please subscribe, and check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@LoriFoster]

Seems not much time for Sinning in a jammed pack day like that!😳

[@paulmaryon9088]

Oooh think they made time for that! haha

[@joeyjamison5772]

People have always found plenty of time for sinning.

[@TomorrowWeLive]

That was the point

[@celticspirit1]

I am a 51 year old Catholic who is taking care of his elderly father. I attend a Franciscan church and attend Mass six days a week. I want to live the monastic life based on the ideals of St. Francis. I believe my vocation is to be a layman who lives a voluntary simple life dedicated to Jesus Christ. I found this video during my research into monastic life. God bless.

[@uptonsavoie]

You fail to mention the charitable works of the monks. The poor depended on the monastic largesse, and when Henry VIII despoiled the monasteries and ousted the inhabitants, the monks were not the only ones starving in the fields and lanes. In those times, the indigent and starving could not hope for governmental support.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Absolutely true, Bud! In fact, many of the daughter orders (Cistercians, for example), had very specific rules/quotas for the set-asides they gave to the poor (x percentage of the goods they produced, or x number of meals or shoes given away on a feast day, etc.). And many of the poor lived as tenant farmers on monastic lands. Plus, they were bound by rules of hospitality, giving food and shelter to travelers. When Henry VIII abolished the monasteries in England, a major support for the poor was removed, requiring the government to become responsible for charity. Thanks for watching and commenting. And check out my website www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@benhassan11]

Also forgot to mention the sexual assault, rape and murders these monks committed. They also forgot their support of slavery and misogyny.

[@ecclesiaxxi6210]

@@benhassan11 Could you please provide the documented evidence of this e.g. primary sources, thanks.

[@antoniolima1068]

@@ecclesiaxxi6210 she dosent need to, she only wants to denigrate the character of an association of single males, standart feminized tactic, imagine all that wealth not being channeled to uterus, now why did monasteries start to fade away?

[@Uberdude6666]

Very educational and interesting, also I love the title of the video xD So may I suggest you put your sources in the description or at the end of the video? It help a ton with fact-checking and credibility :-) I would like to be able to research deeper into the activities of monks in the middle ages, particularly the thing you said about them clearing forests and draining swamps. Unless, ofcourse, you have more videos going more in depths about monastic orders?

[@Thanasis_Koligliatis]

I don't think that there are any sources, really. Most probably, he's just saying whatever he likes, without really having any connection with this whole matter. If you look at his channel, I suspect that it's some kind of scheme to make money out of nothing

[@Uberdude6666]

@@Thanasis_Koligliatis LOL like every youtube ever u mean?

[@Thanasis_Koligliatis]

@@Uberdude6666 Yeah, probably

[@Thanasis_Koligliatis]

@@Uberdude6666 Actually, it's a little bit more than that. If you see his video How to Sign in and Find Classes kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z327opeEj8maea8 at 2:02 He explains that he charges $10/month $20/month to watch this nonsense at his website

[@mambaman9363]

Go see the history of the Norfolk Broads in UK. They were dug out manually for peat by the monks and now, filled with water you can sail a yacht or a barge in for some 280 km.

[@bennysmemestore2274]

In June my wife and I spent three of the most peaceful and silent days in a monastery in La Malbaie, Quebec. Couples sleep in different floors/rooms.

[@stinkythestunk9803]

My good friend, Please tell me what the name of the song is that is played during the 'ora et labora' section in the beginning. It's so beautiful and is driving me mad. Thank you!

[@eddiekulp1241]

We do that now , pray that our work can support us

[@godfreygalea8181]

This explains why millions of US citizens are poor, despite that the majority work hard and long hours. Drugs, alcohol,gambling, prostitution or smoking are the main reasons.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” - Book of Proverbs 6:6-11

[@philipwagner9169]

@@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313 And yet Luke 12:22-32 seems to urge us not to worry about it, but to let God provide.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

@PhilipWagner Luke 12 tells us not to worry about the outcome, not to not work. We do our part. Jesus tells a parable about a man who works his fields and goes home to sleep. While he rests, the crops grow, then he harvests them. Thanks for watching! Check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@philipwagner9169]

@@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313 Thank you!

[@dadikkedude]

Millions are poor because we live in a capitalist society, in a capitalist world. People are poor by design, yet the rich like to point to people's character and give explanations like just work harder, you too can be rich. It's a fantasy, or American dream some like to call it.

[@johnorem1915]

Very good for a six minute history. Since the exodus from the monasteries in the late 1960’s the life has changed dramatically.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

@John Orem Thank you! And you are correct about the exodus from the religious orders since Vatican II. But there are Benedictine houses that are springing up, returning to strict observance of the Rule of St. Benedict. I've visited the one in St. Benedict's home town of Nursia, Italy. Thanks for watching. Subscribe and check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org.

[@TroglodyteDiner]

In the late 12th Century the Cistercians of Yorkshire were so rich they were able to pay the ransom for kidnapped Richard the Lionhearted to the Knights of Rhodes. In turn they won concessions from the monarchy. By the advent of the Renaissance the monastic system had grown to the point that it was tying up too much of the wealth of the emerging Nation-States. While Henry VIII was notorious for it, most Catholic states dissolved their monasteries too. One of the Hapsburg Holy Roman Emperors told the monks to either become parish priests or leave the religious life altogether and get jobs.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thanks for watching, Paul! You’re right, the Orders did accumulate vast wealth-why and how was the point of the video. As I said in the film, most of that wealth was in property (they didn’t have hedge fund portfolios, etc.). They owned vast tracts of farmland for the reasons I explained. But to your point about having more than the secular governments, think about this: governments were always spending their wealth, largely on war (arsenals, navies, soldiers, costs of expeditions). The governments were always broke. King Richard the Lionhearted had to borrow money to go on crusade, and then get bailed out. The secular governments were always borrowing from Italian and German bankers. The monasteries, rich because of property and rents, didn’t spend cash on wars like the kings. So of course the kings looked with envy on that wealth, and saw the opportunity to seize it for more wars. Subscribe to the channel, and check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@Chiefab22]

Thanks 🙏🏻 for sharing

[@stylembonkers1094]

Great stuff.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thanks! Please subscribe, and check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@peterthorpe903]

At the start of the extract, is some very beautiful chant. Please can you tell me where I can find it ?

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thanks for watching, Peter. Unfortunately, it’s an “anonymous” piece. To produce films to show on KZbin without copyright violations, we need to use licensed. The chant pieces in this film are 60-second “medieval chant samples” from a stock media company, not authentic compositions. But there is a lot of authentic Benedictine liturgical chant available. Search “Benedictine Monks of Norcia Chant” on Google or Amazon. Norcia is a mountain town in central Italy, the birthplace of St. Benedict. There is an amazing monastery there that practices the old ways. I’ve visited it for mass, and they chant the old liturgies there. I think they’ve put out 2-3 albums. Fantastic, just what you’re looking for. Subscribe to our channel, or visit my website, www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org.

[@arcticfoxvikingseaking2206]

Donations were crucial. Nobles would want forgiveness for action in ear, etc., so they would donate or even fund a new monestary to "buy there way into heaven". Monks were even revered by high ranking clergy such as bishops and the pope himself.

[@aranthos]

Great video

[@dangerouslytalented]

Sounds like a huge racket for the bishops

[@gregsmith9690]

Some people volunteered to leave the cities a simpler, more authentic spiritual life, working with their hands and living in friendship in a rural setting. Their simplicity and hard work results in productivity. And all of this is a “racket for the bishops?” If so, then what do you have to say about anyone who works today for the government or businesses? If everything is a “racket,” then what’s the alternative? Self-employment? Moving to a remote rural location with a few friends and working with your hands together--oh, wait, that’s the Rule of St. Benedict.

[@skankhunt_-42]

@@gregsmith9690 the alternative is paying the monks for their hard work lmao it ain't that deep

[@zonianinexile]

They could leave whenever they chose to…they were performing personal sacrifice and surviving as a community , something many contemporary folks of the “me” generation wouldn’t understand .

[@frankmann2899]

My cousin is a priest in a monastery in California. It’s not quite like that today but I’d have a hard time doing work with only being compensated with room and board and basic necessities

[@farishope6540]

Oh man that is ironic, LA and monesteary in the same state😂😂 your relative is a hero for making such a choice.

[@abdelrahmanmekawy4418]

what is the name of that fantastic chanting played at @6:10 ?

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Not sure. To produce our films, we purchase stock music from media libraries. It is a composed stock chant piece, meant to resemble “real” chants which often have copyrights we can’t use. But it is beautiful! I’ve attended mass in actual Benedictine monasteries in Italy that still use the ancient rite, and that piece really does evoke that experience. You can find recordings of actual chanted Benedictine monastic liturgies on Amazon music.

[@Dae351]

One thing I learned in this video is that monasteries are the OG Factory

[@Oldparson220]

The incidental wealth of the Benedictine monestaries lead groups like the Carmelites to rule that no house should be more than 15, to keep it small and simple. This same rhythem continues today in very strict houses, like Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma and O.L.Guadalupe monestary in silver city n.m. the Carthusians in Vt. A medieval monk would have little trouble fitting in there.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

True, Daniel! And then when the Carmelites became too comfortable, the Discalced Carmelites were born. As I said in the video, the cycle of founding-success-ease of life-reform-refounding occurred every few generations. Look at how many times and ways the Franciscans have reformed as they went from wandering friars to having established houses, to reformation sub-orders (the Cappucins, etc.). Great observation! Thanks for watching. Subscribe and check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@Oldparson220]

@@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313 That would be an interesting video comparing some of these modern strict communities with their medieval counterparts

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Hmmm…good idea. I’m actually working on some interesting projects in that vein. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2mof3SIbKZpZtU

[@lauriemarie6902]

Since the age of four I always wanted to become a Carmelite nun. Philadelphia USA

[@benhassan11]

It’s all a show, these monks own all the Lands and lead extravagant life styles when no one is watching. Bunch of creeps and pedophiles!

[@CanadianToaster22]

My only question is how can I find that background music?

[@RVM451]

Friend, How hard would it have been to leave the Monastery in those days, for those who found that Monastic Life did not suit them?

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

An excellent question, Friend. St. Benedict made entering the monastery a process of discernment for the “novice” candidate and the other brothers before they were allowed to take vows. You were voluntarily being adopted into what they saw, very seriously, as a family. Could a monk leave? Yes, but it was serious, even more than, say, walking away from the military. It was akin to a divorce, or even renouncing your family. You could do it, no one would stop you, and there was no “penalty,” but it was a grave decision. It left wounds in the family of brothers. If you’re interested, here’s a link to the section of the Rule of St. Benedict about accepting brothers, their vows, and what happens if they decide to leave, with a commentary by the abbot of a modern Benedictine abbey: christdesert.org/rule-of-st-benedict/chapter-58-the-procedure-for-receiving-brothers/. Thanks for watching! Pleas subscribe, and check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org.

[@ww2expertchannel343]

Before there were schools there were monasteries.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

That's absolutely right! Prior to the monasteries, most instruction--going back to the classical era--was by private tutors. The monasteries began organized teaching, and then gave birth to one of the greatest gifts of the Middle Ages: the universities. Dominican and Franciscan friars were the first professors at places like Oxford, Paris, and Bologna. Thanks for watching! Subscribe and check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@xander7ful]

I was a Medieval monk in a past life. I was a copyist or scribe. It was my favorite life so far.

[@johkupohkuxd1697]

Lmao you two are delusional. I was Alexander the Great once.

[@Steampunksaly]

Dear friend, Keep taking your medication and you will be just fine, Kind regards, Napoleon

[@stephenburnage7687]

Me too. By far the happiest of all my life's..But it is a long time ago now.

[@suziewhattley3917]

Were Lauds and Prime adjusted during winter? In Scotland sunrise isn't until 8 or 9 during winter.

[@KonoShunkan]

At the time of St Benedict they didn't have clocks as we know them today (not for nearly 1000 years) and time-keeping was much more organic. Time was told mainly by the sun (sundials being a common method) and of course the position of the sun and length of the day varies by the season. So in southern England, for example, Prime could be as late as 8am in midwinter, and around 4am in midsummer. Even the length of an hour changed according to the season: in winter daylight hours were shorter than the hours of the night and the other way around in summer. This is because there were always considered to be 12 hours of daylight time, and 12 of night, and hours were only the same length at the equinoxes.

[@BpGregor]

Many of the men you showed were not monks but Franciscan Friars. Friars are much different from monks. First, monks take a vow of stability (the Monastery where the person enters is the place where the monk stays for life, leaving only to help start another monastery - a daughter house - only if ordered by the abbot). Friars move about regularly. Monks earn money (support for the monastery) by providing things to sell, by working in the fields, and having schools. Friars are mendicants - they beg for alms. Please note that even though Saint Benedict started the order while there was only one Church, the Benedictines are primarily Roman Catholics. There are Benedictine Monasteries outside the Roman Church. Orthodox Monks are different from Benedictines, although they do many of the same things as Monks of "Western" traditions.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thanks for noticing Kenneth. Totally aware of the differences between the Benedictine cenobite tradition and the Dominican and Franciscan friars, which you point out. The reason for using images of Franciscan friars is that in editing the film, it was hard to find a lot of stock photography or public domain imagery of Benedictine monks. There was a photo essay from the early 20th century of some of the Franciscan mission in California, and I used those to fill gaps. I think-hope-they still illustrated the point. I’m not clear whether Rule of St. Benedict is utilized in either the Greek or Russian Orthodox traditions-if so, it’s not the most common Orthodox monastic model. There are Eastern Rite Catholics that live according to Benedict’s Rule. Thanks for watching, and for sharing information!

[@Reggie-The-Dog]

There was more information here in six and a half minutes than in some documentaries lasting over an hour.

[@michaelcorbidge7914]

So it looks like it was six hours sleep between 9pm and 3am

[@RobertRod818]

Wow, this video made shed tears

[@veen9667]

Why,because you're a lazy monk who smokes?

[@Calvinwiresner]

@@veen9667 no! he wishes to be enclosed with a bunch of sexually deprived men.

[@benhassan11]

The boys they raped she’d different types of tears. They are really good at making people cry.

[@TomorrowWeLive]

@@benhassan11 speaking from personal experience, I presume? Evidently a sore spot for you. Hope you can find healing, bro.

[@astridvallati4762]

Read " The Brother Caedfel Mysteries" by Peters, the story of an ex-Crusader, leading a Monastic Life as an Apothecary, in Shrewsbury Abbey ( Welsh Border area,) solving Murders and other Mysterious occurrences by Forensic Techniques. Over 20 volumes, explains all the ins and outs of a Benedictine Monastry in the 1200s ( Time of Civil War between King Steven and Queen Margaret)

[@el_aleman]

I can relate to brother Cadfael. As a returning career soldier who then became a pharmacist and decided the mess that is our healthcare system was not for me, I retreated to a simple life of becoming a teacher of pharmacology and medical topics and a small school for medical sciences. I love Derek Jacobi‘s interpretation of his character. I think a lot of his sentiments, especially towards human desires, behavior, conflict and its after effects are spot on. So I have the former war veteran-soldier-pharmacist part down with a strong background in toxicology, but I’m OK without being a forensic detective…I do attend mass a lot so does that count? Ha ha !

[@TomorrowWeLive]

@@el_aleman you sound like you'd be an awesome protagonist for a book or movie or TV series or something

[@LoriFoster]

Is Rob Lowe narrating this….🧐 between prayer sessions? 🕺🏼

[@claireseyeviewonredbubble]

Maybe some prisons should experiment by trying this.

[@sampetrie340]

Both work and prayer would be ruled unconstitutional.

[@TriPham-xd9wk]

Maybe medival age define physics laws for later generation

[@astolatpere11]

That has been on my mind lately. Just what did those rascal monks do all day?

[@bobcourtier4674]

You don’t want to know.

[@isarex88]

I feel like this video is gonna blow up in a few days/weeks.

[@hoodie441]

yeah this channels underrated

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thank you! Subscribe and Share! And follow the new partner channel, One Whirling Adventure!

[@G1ennbeckismyher0]

Looks like it did

[@michaeljay9019]

I've heard they monk...eyed around quite a bit. Then at night they watched Ted talks while enjoying cheese and a crusty bread

[@Calvinwiresner]

the crusty cheese of their fellow monk.

[@martinmorrissey5647]

Yes, idle hands do the devils work

[@JayDonagh]

I was born in the wrong generation

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Amen! Hopefully, examples and models of life from the last 20 centuries can inspire the Church in the 21st.

[@matttheman9740]

Don't believe that. You were born when you were born, it was not a right or wrong time. Appreciate what you have and don't mope about what you don't have.

[@signoguns8501]

@@matttheman9740 I dont know, man. I think i'd like to live a simple life, devoted to a higher purpose. I'd rather spend my days living in a beautiful monastery making wine and tending sheep than watching Netflix and doomscrolling Twitter. Modern life just isn't very spiritually fulfilling and I think most people would agree with that assessment.

[@philmansfield8825]

I have to agree with you. However, if not for modern medicine such as dialysis and transplantation, I would have only lived to 25 ( I'm 60 now )

[@el_aleman]

There are still monastic orders out there, there’s one in northern New Mexico that is much like the order in this video. Of course one needs to be pretty secure in their Catholic faith but they are the real thing and live a true monastic life. Of course Covid has turned everything sideways for now, but they do have retreats where one could go for overnight stays to get a taste of this type of life. Hopefully in the near future they will open up their retreat stays again, if anything it would be a good place to chill out for a time, do some spiritual and mental healing.

[@jamesozechoski8254]

Catholic monasteries are the foundation of modern universities

[@ralphmarionvicta3795]

Are prospective monks allowed to bring in books of their choice? For example, philosophy, history, non-canonical books. Or are these available in the monasteries?

[@marion8763]

...and then the reformed order went down the same way after getting wealthy. makes you realize money changes people! for example the Cistercians. great video ! im a monastery tour guide and really enjoyed it.

[@shireboundscribbles]

No family, work like a cog in a machine, own nothing, wake at 3am after/before a long days work. I know that it is canonical but I still think that is unhealthy.

[@stevedavenport2975]

Bring back all the working monasteries

[@tilethio]

This is a very educative video. I am sure you will come back with "What would monks and prists today spend their day."

[@vuho2075]

I ain't getting up at 3 am. Period..

[@AFC0712]

devil makes work for idle hands

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thanks for watching, Jack! “Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading.” ― Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict. Check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

In England they got things done... until Henry put the kibosch on it.

[@rezwanurrahman5997]

Excellent lifestyle. I like it

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thanks for liking! Check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org

[@frankribeiro399]

Their life is to pray.Live in community.The 3 vows.They do not work to feed themselves.They have the brothers who are not priests who cook for the monks.Tough life and in name of God. No ease vocation.

[@zeer6425]

Respect.

[@mikec6733]

Narrator's voice sounds familiar but I can't place it. Can anyone help me out ?

[@Plymouthmusicschool]

This is would make an incredible reality show for Netflix however I’d be sure to be a binge watcher of the show and eventually neglect my responsibilities

[@SuperDarkrock]

And we still follow these rules in the U.S. Navy to this day.

[@knowledge-is-infinite]

What happen to the old monks when they get old? Never see any old monks among them.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Thanks for watching, Vanao! There were plenty of old monks. They lived in the monastic house until they died. I didn't have stock photos of old monks for the video, though. Check out my website: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org!

[@benhassan11]

When they are old they end up in prison for raping boys. It’s a serious problem with the statue of limitation. At least in America.

[@Smitty19966]

I'm not religious at all but I will say Medieval Europe was built on the backs of monks who set in motion the Renaissance.

[@jonahmaddox2885]

What about those monks wrestling thing ?

[@josephhaddakin7095]

Nacho Libre?? lol

[@davidurban6813]

Q; What do monks do all day? A; Monkee around LOL

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Congratulations! You’re the 101st person in this comment thread that came up with that joke.

[@jackandersonrangelsolomon3785]

You are wrong they spend most of the time stretching theirs willis

[@Kwankle_1]

They play twister.

[@adeaton1093]

Did or do monks take a day of rest?

[@Less1leg2]

polished their tools

[@Vikasit952]

Sounds very similar to ancient Hindu way of life and from it developed the famous Hindu Caste System . A fine vedios . Thanks .

[@pradeepakrish]

We would not have any European civilization during the middle ages without these monks! ✝️📚🌾🐂

[@nancydrew5]

When did Monks sleep?

[@oldmanwillyboy2786]

Mostly Novices and any youngsters from the any nearby settlements unlucky enough to fall into their graspe .........

[@nrgrlsd9931]

What did medieval monks do all day? Little boys..........

[@lauriemarie6902]

Oh honey you know it. LMFAO. Philadelphia USA

[@MCeili]

This reminds me of my favourite book. A door in the wall.

[@suziewhattley3917]

If you like that, try "In This House of Brede" by Rumer Godden. The book, not the movie. The movie deviated terribly.

[@mukhumor]

They didn't have unemployment, they had monasteries. Getting up a 03:am to pray? That sounds like a broken sleep regime. I wonder how many were there because it was the last chance.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Or a simple, rural life of hard work and a healthy lifestyle. Talk to a farmer. Is it better or worse than modern man, spending half his night surfing the internet or playing video games before driving through traffic to a corporate or government job to make the minimum payments on his debts?

[@mukhumor]

@@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313 Hey I don't know. Swings and round abouts I guess.

[@greggoodes]

A leaf out of Mother Theresa's book

[@jasonbrown1807]

Ora et labora doesnt appear in the Rule.

[@eamonbreathnach4613]

A wonderful way of life

[@chrisgillard6129]

Go into the cities, towns, villages and farms. Teach the people the prayers in the Psalms, the wisdom of Proverbs, the Gospels of the Lord. Teach the peasants in their own native tongue. Perhaps teach them how to read their own language and to read such things in their own language. Pity, the Catholic Church would never permit such a life and work like what I have just described. They would have me burning at the stake for that. To this very day, one would be hard pressed, to find a church that would teach about fasting and prayer for the sins of ones nation and for the sins of whatever tribe one may hail from. The church failed to teach. Probably why so many have left and don't seem to be returning any time soon.

[@chrisgillard6129]

@Rose Rose I have a mom who was a devout Roman Catholic. Her sister was a Catholic nun. Her entire family are 100% Catholic. It was not until I, as a teen aged young man got into trouble with under-aged drinking and narcotics (marijuana and LSD) that my mom truly started to become a Christian. It was then, in my mixed up teen aged years that mom started talking to the priest at church. He taught her what to read and try to understand in the Bible. Psalms, Proverbs, Gospels. Mom prayed continually and she got quite good at learning that Bible. Now she rests in peace, safe in the arms of Jesus. It was not going to mass every Sunday that did it. It was the loving kindness of a priest teaching a simple woman the Bible. I know many people who have gone to church every Sunday and yet have never opened up the Bible a day in their life. Let alone the art and discipline of fasting and prayer. My dads family are Protestant. They don't know the Bible either. It was my grandfather, Lyle Gillard, he would always be reading and praying in the Bible. It is thru him that the Lord has been able to work with the Protestants on my dads side of the family. Why don't ALL Christian churches have a list of books to study in the Bible? Why don't they give a list of books to read from the public library? The history of the church, the history of ones nation, the history of whatever tribe you come from; English, Scottish, German, French, whatever. It is the failure of the church. The churches did not and still to this day do not teach as they should. If every Catholic or Protestant would have been taught the prayers of the Psalms, the wisdom of the Proverbs, the Gospels of Jesus, the Christ, our Lord. If the parishioners had been taught these truths way back in 1946, after the miserable war was over; then maybe, just maybe, this society, and all of western society, would not be in the sorry mess that we are in today. As it is most people don't bother themselves with church any more. They and their families don't know the Bible or the history of the church or the history of their own darn country that they live in. We are living in a society, a world, of ignorant people that are continually chasing money but completely ignorant of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the blind leading the blind. I personally blame the church, both Protestant and Catholic, for failing to teach as they should. Now I'm afraid, that it is all too late. The gig is up. The nightmare has begun, and it is only going to get progressively worse. May the Lord be merciful, if He can. But personally, I think, the church is going to be chastised severely. My hope is that you and yours will be willing and able to teach about fasting and prayer in the book of Psalms. This sorry society sure could use a lot more of that. Peace, out.

[@49685sb]

@@chrisgillard6129 You have many valid points. Unfortunately, the Church has become more political than faith based. My fear is as you fear……It may be to late to reverse or recoup what has been lost over the decades maybe centuries. We would all be in a better place if we spent more time in prayer with God and less time in idle twaddle. Don’t ever lose your desire to learn. I wish you well as you continue your journey of life. May God Bless you and all your loved ones. Happy Day of Thanksgiving!

[@michaeltschol5308]

Seems like the monks had the original OG Grindset going before there was crypto.

[@1220b]

Pray, Bash the Bishop, pray, eat, Bash the Bishop, Snap one off, Pray Sleep

[@nighthawwwk]

All glory belongs to God

[@lauriemarie6902]

I am impressed they had an agenda. Philadelphia USA

[@brian752]

Monk-ey around?! lol

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Congratulations! You're the 100th person to think up that joke in this comment thread!

[@brian752]

@@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313 Wonderful to be in the groove! ;-}

[@robindagala8981]

That's the reason of so many reformation and renewal of monastic orders, to go back to the real spirit of monastic life and to practice charity for the poor and helping the poor farmers to become productive themselves, through ORA ET LABORA.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

Amen, Robin. That’s why the Carmelites gave birth the Discalced Carmelites, or the Franciscans to the Capuchins, etc. Thanks for watching! Subscribe and check out my channel: www.OneWhirlingAdventure.org.

[@gerardmazzarese9363]

One third of catholic adults peopled the monastaries in those days. Millions were turned away because they had no more space. They were the social workers taking care of the orphans, the old and the sick. The land contracts with the farmers were 100 year leases. The rent required was 10 percent and was considered their tithe. If there was a bad crop or some other family problem and the 10 percent could not be met for that year, it was forgiven unlike the modern banks or government that forclose or reposess. Then came the plague. Millions died and these millions of social workers died because they took care of the sick to save the families. Then they had to take in less then qualified persons to repeople the monasteries. This led to the protestant rebelion started by bad priest who did not like the vows of poverty, chastity and obediance. War broke out between catholics and pretestants and monastaries were looted and destroyed in the protestant nations. Then the freemasons started and were peopled by protestants. Then a group of these guys had a revolution and started the first democratic nation of the Black beast (the United States). Then the French Revolution took over France and killed all the catholic nobility, the catholic king and queen. Then they put together a 5 million man army and swept through Europe destroying catholic churches and monastaries. They hunted down priest and murdered them. On and on till this day.

[@lbj4993]

Good informative video, but with horrific and distracting music which made me tune out.

[@josephang9927]

So they basically worked as proto-corporations for the Workers.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

No, they were a family, living as a family, supporting themselves as a family, serving God together. That's why the leader was called an "abbot," from the New Testament Greek word for "father" ("abba") and they were brothers. The bond was for life.

[@anon2867]

Oh so they just casually created society.

[@joeyjamison5772]

I'm a great believer in the principle: "In order to be forgiven for your sins, the first thing you have to do is sin!"

[@dazzawazza3578]

According to the bible we are born sinners aren’t we? Hence baptism

[@michaellowry7675]

I would like to see a Catholic Priest Work like these guys today

[@enixbluerain7213]

Just follow a diocesan Catholic priest who handles a parish to know one.

[@lakeshoreacademyforthenewe3313]

I work with a lot of diocesan priests, and some Dominican friars. None of them works less than 60-70 hours in an average week.