Regulate of Colomban saint

The monastic Règle of Colomban saint is a rule written by saint Colomban de Luxeuil to regulate the operation of the monasteries.

History

Saint Colomban is monk with the Abbaye of Bangor (current Northern Ireland) when it has to come to reform the continental abbeys in 590 by the king mérovingien Gontran. He puts in writing the severe principles of the Irish monachism bound for the Gallic monasteries. He compiles three documents:

the Pénitentiel , which are a collection of sanctions for the made faults, the laic ones, the clerks, and monks;
the conventual Rule which contains only sorrows for the made faults;
the Rule of the Monks which is a true rule, and insists on the virtues of the monks.

It exists in two versions:

Controlled cujusdam patris AD monachos , long of twenty-two chapters and intended for the communities of men;
Controlled cujusdam patris AD virgines , long of twenty-four and intended for the communities of women.

This rule is D `access in force with the Abbaye of Luxeuil, the first rested by saint Colomban (594), then with those of Lure and Fountain-the-Luxeuil. When Colomban must leave Luxeuil, it is established with Eustèse, then founds the monasteries of Bobbio and 18 others: Jouarre, Abbey of Remiremont. The rule is a certain success, and nearly 90 monasteries adopt it: either foundations of the disciples of Colomban (like Attala, Gall and Colomban the Young person), or imitation. It in the same way is used by female or double monasteries.

But, extremely severe, sometimes vague. Poverty must extend to the monastery: it can have only its herds, and give to the poor any gift in cash.

To preserve chastity, and as the rule allows the double monasteries, it is interdict with a monk to spend one night in an inn where a virgin is, to have conversations regularly with a virgin, to travel with a virgin.

The daily Jeûne is also advised. The fasts of Wednesday and Friday are obligatory (in the monasteries according to this rule, one indicated Wednesday by this Ain , the first fast, and Friday by Ain didin , the second fast).

Interdicts and penitences

The rule of Colomban saint is characterized by the severity and the number of punishments planned for the failures with the rule.

The duty of evangelization is a form of Pénitence, known as pereginatio Dei . It already exists in an abstract way in the Irish monasteries.

It is recommended to sleep the least possible: one should only lie down exhausted. For that purpose, the rule envisages many work, handbooks and intellectuals: vast Scriptoria is arranged to recopy enluminés manuscripts there, and the monks work the ground, whose fruits nourish the monks and the poor.

The Confession is public and Community.

To cool the young monks and to preserve their chastity, the rule their request to recite a psalm in a torrent.

See too

Abbey of Jumièges

External bonds

Sources

Gerard Briche. Celtic spirituality. Rules and uses. In line
Brother Luc Brésard. “Western monachism” in History of monastic spirituality , In line