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The infirmarer
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The infirmarer (or server of the sick) was
the monastic official (obedientiary)
in charge of the abbey’s infirmary.
Here, he oversaw the care of the sick and those recuperating after
bloodletting, as well as some elderly members of the community, who were
unable to observe
the full rigours of the monastic life. The infirmarer’s office was
an important and prestigious post.
The infirmarer of the abbey
at first slept in the common dormitory with the rest of the community;
later on he probably had his own house within
or near to the infirmary complex. In the thirteenth century the
infirmarer at Roche seemingly
had his own lodgings beside the abbot’s
house.(6) The infirmarer acted first and foremost as an intermediary
between the infirmary
and the cloister. Whenever a monk was received in the infirmary
it was the infirmarer’s responsibility to transfer his utensils from
the refectory and his bedding from the dormitory; he replaced these
once the monk had
recovered and rejoined the community. Each day the infirmarer fetched
the inmates’ daily allowance of food and drink from the cellarer,
and borrowed from the abbey church books that were needed to celebrate
the
Offices in
the infirmary chapel. He was to ensure that these and any other
books were returned safely.
The infirmarer mediated between the sick
and the rest
of the community. He attended the daily chapter meeting and reported
any matters of importance to the infirm. When one of his monks
was ready to
rejoin the community, the infirmarer sought authorisation from
the abbot for his return to the cloister; if one of the brethren
was about to die,
he alerted the community so that the monks could gather together
and make provision for his soul.
The infirmarer was responsible
for the overall management of the infirmary complex. He alone was
allowed to speak with the inmates,
but was to do so quietly, in the designated areas and, of course,
only to talk about appropriate matters - this was not an excuse
for gossiping. The infirmarer’s duties within the infirmary
included lighting the candles for Matins, cleaning the bowls that
had been used at bloodletting and disposing of the blood, and ensuring
that the fire was lit. On Saturdays he washed the feet of those
who resided in the infirmary – if they so wished – and
shook their clothing.
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