Monachism

(mõn'a-kizm.) [From Gr. mo nachos, a monk.] (Eccl. Hist.) A state of religious retirement, more or le complete, accompanied by contemplation, and by various devotional, ascetical, and penitential practices. The father of M. is generally agreed to have been St. Anthony, who, in 305, collected a number of ascetics into an a ociated community in Egypt, and regulated their mode of living by fixed rules. The ancient monks were not like the modern,distinguished into orders, but took their names from the places which they inhabited, or were distinguished by their different modes of living; as-1. the Anchorets, who lived alone in private cells in the wilderne ; 2. the Cœnobites, who lived in community, several of them in the same house, under the direction of a superior; and 3, Sara bites, or strolling monks, who had no fixed rule or residence. The first and last of these came gradually to be absorbed in the regular Cœnobite system, which was principally regarded by the Church, and most under its direction. A great epoch in the history of western M. began with Benedict of Nurcia, whose rule (529) came gradually into general use, transforming the previously independent communities into an hierarchical order. It became the bond of union for most of the western convents, but the many favors received from Church, State, and individuals, facilitated the growth of moral corruption to a great extent, and called forth repeated attempts at reform; so that for many centuries the history of M. presents a continued struggle of reformers with the laxity and indifference, obtaining in a greater or le er number of the convents of their times. In the 14th century, a general degeneracy of M. commenced, until at length the name of monk came to be almost synonymous with ignorance and rudene . The dawn of the Reformation, in the 16th century, had an important influence on this state of things, and strong efforts were made to enforce a more strict observance of the rules of the respective orders. The Council of Trent pa ed a number of regulations for the internal management of religious houses. Several new orders were formed upon improved rules, the most famous of which is that of the Jesuits, who were, more than any other order, under the absolute power of the Pope. Since the 16th cent.,however, M. cannot be said to have manifested an inherent vitality or power; and with the advance of modern civilization it has lost its highest meaning and conservative use. An account of the principal monastic orders will be found under their own names in other parts of this work. The enclosure within which a community of monks reside, is called a monastery. The cloistered of men. residence of nuns is called by various names, [s. 611]