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HOW THE MONKS ARE TO SLEEP

How the monks are to sleep is set forth in chapters 22 and
55 of the Rules of St. Benedict. According to these, each
monk must have his separate bed, assigned to him in
accordance with the date of his conversion. If possible, all
of the brethren should sleep in one room; but if their
number does not allow this, in groups of ten and twenty,
with seniors to supervise them. The young monks may not
sleep in a group among themselves, but interspersed with
their elders. A light must burn in the dormitory throughout
the night and the monks must sleep "clothed and girt with
girdles or cords," so that they can rise without delay when
the signal calls them to the work of God. They must not
sleep "with their knives at their sides lest they hurt themselves."

"When they rise for the work of God," St. Benedict
advises, "let them gently encourage one another, on account

[ILLUSTRATION]

196. ST. RIQUIER (CENTULA)

ANGILBERT'S CHURCH AND CLOISTER (790-799)
[after Effman, 1912, fig. 1]

The original manuscript of Hariulf's Chronicon Centulense,
written before 1088, (ed. Lot, 1894) perished in fire in 1719. It
contained Hariulf's drawing of the Carolingian abbey church and
cloister still in their original condition. His drawing is known through
two copies. The earliest and most authentic (above) was made in
1612 and published in Petau's De Nithardo Caroli magni
nepote, Paris, 1913. Our knowledge of the exterior of the
Carolingian church is derived from it. The interior layout was
reconstructed independently, with virtually the same results, by
Georges Durand (1911) and Wilhelm Effmann (1912) through
analysis of the description of religious services and liturgical
processions in Hariulf's chronicle. The best plan, because it takes into
account irregularities in the Gothic church reflecting conditions of its
Carolingian predecessor, is that of Irmingard Achter, 1956 (figs. 135
and 168).

of the excuses to which the sleepy are addicted."[35]
In waking each other, as Hildemar informs us in more
detail, "the wise and older monk will arouse the brother
who sleeps next to him . . . but no junior monk should ever
arouse another junior, because of the temptation this may
offer for sin (propter occasionem peccati); rather one or two
seniors, after having lit a candle, will walk through the
dormitory to wake the sleepy brothers; yet, in performing
this duty will never touch the brother but only a board of
his bed or something similar."[36]

For bedding they are allowed: a mattress (matta), a
blanket (sagum), a coverlet (lena), and a pillow (capitale).
The possession of any personal property other than that
which is issued to all of the brothers[37] is severely prohibited,
and in order to guard against infractions of this regulation
the beds are frequently inspected by the abbot.[38]

We must assume that the beds were provided with some
locker or storage space, in which the monks could keep the
duplicate set of clothing which the Rule permitted them
"to allow for a change at night and for the washing of these
garments."[39]

During the hours which are set aside for sleeping,
whether in the day or at night, silence is vigorously enforced
in the dormitory;[40] but on certain specified periods
of the daily cycle, such as when the monks return from
their chapter readings, they may engage in conversation, in
groups of two or three or more.[41] Even during the midday
rest in the summer, conversation is permitted, provided
that it does not "injure the peace of those who sit and read
in bed." Should there be any need for sustained talk, the
monks must go outside (i.e., to the cloister walk) and
conduct their business there.[42]