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The Cistercians through medieval eyes: seculars on the Cistercians (4/7)
The black monks …
have acquired in our days certain new imitators who profess the
same rule and - more fervent in spirit - add thereto some stricter
ordinances of their own. These men we call white or grey monks …
The white monks wear the woven wool just as the sheep did, innocent
of any dye, and though they taunt the black monks for their lambskins,
they themselves are provided in equally good measure with numbers
of comfortable habits, such as would become costly scarlet for the
delight of kings and princes if they were not snatched from the
dyer’s hands. There is a highly tested school
of religion, the highest use of modesty, regularity of ways, feeling
of fraternity, peace of soul, communion of all men, mutual complaisance,
vigour of discipline, love of obedience, bond of turnal watches,
quiet of meditation and devotion of psalmody. What they may have purposed
or promised in the bud, I know not: but whatever the promise
was, such a fruit has followed that makes you fear the tree. '... that perfect rule of Cistercian
life which is now the marvel of almost the whole church.' |
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