Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/279

 The Period of Invasions 199 Accordingly St. Benedict drew up, about the year 526, a sort of constitution for the monastery of Monte Cassino, in southern Italy, of which he was the head. This "Rule of St. Benedict," as it is called, so well met the needs of the monastic life that it gradually became the "plan" according to which all the Western monks lived. CLOISTERS OF HEILIGENKREUZ This picture of the cloister in the German monastery of Heiligenkreuz is chosen to show how the more ordinary monastery courts looked, with their pleasant, sunny gardens The Rule of St. Benedict is as important as any constitution that was ever drawn up for a state. It provided that the brethren should elect the head of the monastery the abbot, as he was called. Along with frequent prayer and meditation the monks were to do the necessary cooking and washing for the monastery and raise the necessary vegetables and grain. They were also to read and teach. Those who were incapacitated for outdoor work were assigned lighter tasks, such as copying books. 317. The Monastic Vows. The monk had to take the three vows of obedience, poverty, and purity. He was to obey the abbot without question in all matters that did not involve his committing a sin. He pledged himself to perpetual and absolute