Enlightened Monks: The German Benedictines, 1740-1803

by Ulrich L. Lehner

Enlightened Monks investigates the social, cultural, philosophical, and theological challenges the German Benedictines had to face between 1740 and 1803, and how the Enlightenment process influenced the self-understanding and lifestyle of these religious communities. It had an impact on their forms of communication, their transfer of knowledge, their relationships to worldly authorities and to the academic world, and also their theology and philosophy. The multifaceted achievements of enlightened monks, which included a strong belief in individual freedom, tolerance, human rights, and non-violence, show that monasticism was on the way to becoming fully integrated into the Enlightenment. Ulrich L. Lehner refutes the widespread assumption that monks were reactionary enemies of Enlightenment ideas. On the contrary, he demonstrates that many Benedictines implemented the new ideas of the time into their own systems of thought. This revisionist account contributes to a better
understanding not only of monastic culture in Central Europe, but also of Catholic religious culture in general.

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2011

Reviews

[William Nist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most people think of the medieval idea of the monastery if they think of monastic life at all. Or they think of an unchanging program of 'ora et labora'. But that is wrong, and this volume details the changes that took place in the late 18th century that created the modern social structures found in today's Benedictine monasteries. This is an era well after the Council of Trent, and just before this state seizure of monastic property in the early 19th century.

The Benedictine reaction to the Enlightenment, the Philosophy of Kant and Wolfe, the change in educational standards and the rise of the academic monk, the end of monastic imprisonment, the handling of renegade monks.....all this is covered in Lehner's highly interesting, dare I say entertaining, work.

The monastery where I lived for 5 years was always under criticism from the secular clergy for it's "lax" standards. But these critics had the medieval model in mind without the post-enlightenment developments. To the outside observer with this medieval model in his or her head, our monastic house did appear lax. We could leave the grounds, miss one the 3 remaining communal sung liturgical hours, eat common foodstuffs, have some beer, These and other changes occurred first during the period that this book addresses. And when understood in it's historical context, these changes can be appreciated more thoroughly.

[Joe Torchedlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

enlightenment, monasticism, history, benedictine order, catholicism, theology