The number of such small hostels, monasteries (each of them was inhabited, as a rule, by 5-10 people) began to increase rapidly from about 500, when Western Europe was subjected to devastating barbarian invasions. Now in the cloisters they often saved not only the soul, but also life, and sometimes wealth. The barbarians did not always spare the monasteries that came across on their way, but unarmed monks did not cause them serious concern, and the monasteries were located on the outskirts of the main roads, large cities and fortified rural estates of the nobility. Monastic cloisters turn into shelters for many random people, often far from not only high thoughts about God, but also from faith in general. The Church feels that monastic life is beginning to get out of its control: the morals of the monks deteriorated, discipline fell, and the arbitrariness of the abbots increased. Recall that the number of monasteries at the same time constantly increased. The mere transfer of Eastern "dormitories" to Western soil brought the most dangerous results.
By the beginning of the VI century. it was clear to everyone that the abodes of the West were in need of the most serious reform. Someone had to set an example of monastic life, in which the fraternal treatment of monks with each other would be combined with the strictest discipline. Prayer had to be combined with physical labor, because the growing monasteries were forced to support themselves. Finally, a newcomer to the brotherhood had to pass a probationary period and earn the approval of the brothers by his behavior. All these innovations were introduced by the Italian monk Saint Benedict, who came from the city of Nursia. In the activities of Benedict of Nursia, the last reflection of the Roman administrative genius is noticeable - the genius of organization and order.
The main creation of Saint Benedict was the charter of monastic life - the rules by which the monks were to be guided during work and rest. By the name of the creator, this charter began to be called Benedictine, and the monks who fulfilled the charter became Benedictine. Until the end of the XI century. The Benedictine "Order" (the so-called association of all monasteries that recognized the rule of St. Benedict) was the most numerous and revered of all the monastic orders in Western Europe.
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People entered the monastery in order to serve God, so the charter organized the entire life of the monastery around church services, in which all the brothers participated several times a day. The measured rhythm of monastic life was indicated by the strikes of the bell, calling the brethren either to joint prayer or to a common meal. Even the sleep of the Benedictines was subordinate to the church rhythm and was divided into two parts by an all-night service that took place late at night: the “first dream” - before the all-night service, and the “second” - after it. True, a short day's rest was also allowed. Only the sick and those employed in distant monastic possessions were exempted from participation in joint prayers by the permission of the abbot.
Part of the day, free from divine services, the monks devoted to work - both physical and mental. All of them, in one way or another, were engaged in farming - arranging firewood, grinding grain, caring for livestock, plowing; mental work was reduced to reading, reflection on the theological books read and copying books. The last of the occupations was considered especially pleasing to God; even very small Benedictine monasteries certainly acquired "scriptoriums" (the so-called workshops for copying and decorating books) and libraries. It is to the Benedictines that we owe the fact that at least some of the works of Greek and Roman authors have survived to this day. Basically, the monks, of course, copied the Bible and the writings of the church fathers. The book was considered in the Benedictine monasteries as a treasure, it could be made for several years, decorated with rich illustrations, curly capital letters ...
Finally, the rule of Saint Benedict taught the brothers kindness and tolerance towards each other. Benedict was not a supporter of a harsh attitude towards himself and towards his neighbors. He believed that a person should not be required to complete self-denial and self-abasement - love for the Lord can be proved by simpler and more modest means. A monk is adorned not so much by "feats" as by humility and obedience. ..
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