The church played an important role in medieval society, exercising influence politically, economically, socially, and culturally. Politically, the church advised kings and tried to reduce violence. Economically, the church collected tithes from peasants and received donations. Socially, the church supervised moral behavior and helped the poor. Culturally, the clergy were the most educated and produced manuscripts. The clergy were divided into secular and regular, with regular clergy like Benedictine monks living communally in monasteries under vows and dedicating themselves to prayer and work.

1. ROLE OF THE
CHURCH
POLITICALLY
ECONOMICALLY
Advised kings.
Had large fiefs.
Tried to reduce the
violence applying
spiritual sanctions
(excommunication):
Collected taxes from
peasants: the tithe
(10% annual income)
- Peace of God:
condemned attacks
to defenseless places
& people.
- Truce of God:
condemned attacks
on Sundays & other
religious days.
Received donations
in exchange for
prayers.
Medieval society was
THEOCENTRIC (God was the
focal point of attention). That’s
why the church had a great
influence in every aspect of life.
SOCIALLY
Supervised the moral
behaviour of the
population (who had
to attend mass,
confess, follow the
Church’s commands)
Helped the poor, sick,
orphans…
Provided resting place
for pilgrims
Controlled working
time (bells)
CULTURALLY
Clergy was the most
educated class (only
ones who could read
& write)
Produced & copy
manuscripts in
monasteries.
Financed works of
art.

2. TYPES OF CLERGY
SECULAR CLERGY
REGULAR CLERGY
High secular clergy  bishops
High regular clergy  abbots & abbesses
Low secular clergy  priests
Low regular clergy  monks & nuns
· Lived among the rest of the
population.
· Lived in monasteries (men ≠ women).
· All men
· Communal life; different orders with
different rules.
· Vows of poverty, chastity & obedience.
· “Ora et labora”  life dedicated to
prayer & work.

3. Benedictine order
• Founded In the 6th Century by the
Italian monk St. Benedict of Nursia.
• Monastic communities that
observe the Rule of Saint Benedict.
•Chapter 6 recommends moderation in the use of speech, but does not enjoin strict silence, nor
prohibit profitable or necessary conversation.
•Chapter 22 regulates the dormitory. Each monk is to have a separate bed and is to sleep in
his habit, so as to be ready to rise without delay [for early Vigils]; a light shall burn in the
dormitory throughout the night.
•Chapters 39 and 40 regulate the quantity and quality of the food. Two meals a day are
allowed, with two cooked dishes at each. Each monk is allowed a pound of bread and a
hemina (probably about half a pint) of wine. The flesh of four-footed animals is prohibited
except for the sick and the weak.

4. Medieval monasteries
Church
Chapter house
Cloister
Refectory
Scriptorium
Kitchen
Hostelry
Monk’s cells
Church: building where the monks participated in the divine offices.
Scriptorium: the room where the monks read, studied and illustrated sacred manuscripts.
Hostelry: the building where the monks offered accommodation to pilgrims.
Chapter house: the building where the daily meetings of the community took place, presided
over by the abbot.
Cloister: A square open courtyard surrounded by covered galleries with open arcades on the
inner side. From Latin “claustrum” which means “closed”. It was where the monks walked,
meditated, talked to each other.
Refectory: the dining room where the monks ate together at large tables. They ate in silence
while a monk read from texts from the Bible aloud.

5. Cloister: a square open courtyard surrounded by covered
galleries with open arcades on the inner side. From Latin
“claustrum” which means “closed”. It was where the
monks walked, meditated, talked to each other.

6. Scriptorium: the room where the monks read, studied and
illustrated sacred manuscripts.

7. Refectory: the dining room where the monks ate together
at large tables. They ate in silence while a monk read from
texts from the Bible aloud.

8. Chapter house: the building where the daily meetings of the
community took place, presided over by the abbot.