Which of the following statements about monasticism is true?

Question

a Monks were not encouraged to do any physical work because it would distract them from prayer

b Monks provided schools for the young and hospitals for the sick

c Monks were always solitary hermits who gave up civilization to pursue a spiritual life

d Monks lived by a strict rule of behavior that was written by Gregory the Great

Answer 1

The true statement about monasticism is:

b. Monks provided schools for the young and hospitals for the sick.

Monks played a significant role in education and healthcare during the Middle Ages, establishing monasteries that functioned as centers of learning and care for the sick.

The other statements are not accurate:

• a is incorrect because many monastic communities emphasized the importance of physical labor as part of their daily routines alongside prayer.
• c is misleading; while some monks chose solitary lives, many lived in communities and followed a communal lifestyle.
• d is incorrect because the Rule that many monks followed was primarily attributed to St. Benedict, not Gregory the Great.