Abbey and priory refer to the governance (governed by an abbott/abbess or
prior/prioress) At least in theory the former are relatively autonomous
while the latter have an abbey over them but this varies from order to order
and often from house to house. Convent is one of several words that refer
to the community in a general way in the Latin texts though it has crept
into modern usage as a building and most frequently a building occupied by
women. Monastery is the building which monks or nuns occupy or the
corporate community of either monks or nuns.
Jo Ann
-----Original Message-----
From: eric t metzler <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, September 16, 1999 2:10 PM
Subject: monastic query
>Dear Listmembers:
>
>I'm reading about monastic houses at the moment and wondering about the
>shades of meaning distinguishing the various designations for those
>houses. Specifically, what differentiates:
>
>abbey, priory, convent, and monastery? Believe it or not, I thought I
>knew, but the more I read the more confused I get.
>
>thanks in advance for any help offered.
>
>Eric T. Metzler
>Comparative Literature
>Indiana University
>
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