World Civilization
World Civilization
World Civilization Interactive Journey
HIST 4130/5130
HIST 4950/5950
HIST 4140/5140
HIST 4280/5280:
HIST 4285/5285:
IDST 2310:
Databases, Bibliographies,
Georgia College &
to 1550 C.E.
1550 to the present
The Middle Ages
Medieval Monasticism
Renaissance and
Reformation
Intellectual and
Cultural History
of Europe
to 1500 C.E.
Intellectual and
Cultural History
of Europe
since 1500 C.E.
The Fine and
Applied Arts
in Civilization
and other WWW
Research Resources
State University
Explore the Structure and Parts of a Modern Monastery
Dr. Vess's Virtual Tour of the Grounds and Buildings of Mt. St. Scholastica
Atchison, Kansas
St. Scholastica, patroness of women Benedictines
from a mural in the main monastery hall.
According to Book II of The Dialogues of Gregory the Great, Benedict's sister Scholastica lived somewhere near the foot of Monte Cassino with a group of women. It is not known whether this group of women followed the Rule of St. Benedict or whether Scholastica was, in fact, their abbess. Neveretheless, she is represented with the crozier of the abbess. She is also depicted with the dove, after the story in Gregory's Dialogues about her last meeting with her brother. According to Gregory, the two met annually, at some location between their two abodes. On their last meeting, Scholastica implored her brother to stay but a while longer, so that they might continue to share their spiritual joys with one another. Benedict refused, citing the needs of his community, and as Scholastica prayed, the heavens opened in a tremendous storm, forcing Benedict to stay the night. Three days later, after his return to Monte Cassino, he saw a dove fly past his cell, and knew that Scholastica had died. She is a symbol of patient and steadfast love. Scholars have debated whether Scholastica is an historical figure or an example of a common device of hagiographies, the use of a woman figure. Since Scholastica shows a negative side of Benedict, it is plausible to think she was an actual figure in his life. Gregory implies that they were twins, by which he may mean spiritual twin as opposed to physical twin.
St. Benedict
outside the main building of the monastery
Benedict holds in his right hand the Holy Rule which is attributed to him.
St. Cecilia's
This was the first home of the Benedictines of Mt. St. Scholastica. Today, it houses a music academy and is on the National Register of Historic Places
The curved stariwell at St. Cecilia's
the beautifully inlaid wooden floor of St. Cecilia's
The main building, which houses the enclosure
The Chapel
This large structure is used for community gatherings and special feast days
The altar in the Chapel
One of the beautiful stained glass windows in the Chapel, depicting one of the many Benedictine women who contributed to the evolution of The Church and to the development of Europe
Manual labor at the monastery
A modern realization of Benedict's injunction that "idleness is the enemy of the soul" (RB 48:1).
The grounds of the monastery
one can see the grove of pecan trees and, in the distance, grapevines. Most modern monasteries are no longer self-sufficient in terms of agricultural production, but most still maintain some semblance of manual labor in the fields