Saint Gilbert of Sempringham shows considerable concern for the spiritual
welfare of both the lay brothers and lay sisters in his community. He urges
them to take time from their labors to recite prayers, and also makes
connections between their physical labor and achieving knowledge of the love
of God. (See Raymonde Forville's *Book of Saint Gilbert* and the
*Monasticon Anglicanum*.) In the early years of the Gilbertine community,
the lay brethren actually joined the nuns in their chapel during some of the
hours.
Jana Bennett
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill East
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 10/6/98 10:12 AM
Subject: Re: FEAST 6 October
"As for you, my beloved lay brothers, I say, 'My soul magnifies the
Lord',
for I see the greatness of his mercy to you according to the report of
your
loving prior and father, who boasts much about you and rejoices. We too
rejoice since, though you are unlettered men, yet the mighty God writes
on
your hearts with his finger not only his love but a knowledge of his
holy
law. You show by your actions what you love and what you know. For
when
you practise true obedience with all care and zeal, it is clear that you
read wisely the sweet and life-giving fruit of divine scripture."
This is a remarkable instance of a monastic writer taking seriously the
spiritual welfare of the lay brethren, who, perhaps inevitably, since by
definition they never wrote any books or left any written record, tend
to be
forgotten by students of medieval religion. But perhaps someone has
done
some work on them?
Bill.
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