What would have been beneficial about being a monk in the middle ages?

Answer 1

As in all things, there were advantages and disadvantages in living the cloistered and secluded life of a monk.

Benefits included:

• Monks were clerics (clergy), so they were not subject to the common law of the land, only to Church or Canon Law, which did not have the power to use the death penalty.
• Monks automatically received an education, which began with learning Latin and the daily Offices (church services) and went on to include the writings of classical authors and the Fathers of the Church, theology, logic, history and many other subjects.
• Monks were taught from the very start to put themselves last in all things, to be devoutly humble and obedient, thus removing all idea of worldly possessions, jealousies, greed, ambition and the need to be better than everyone else. Some people today would do well to learn the same lesson.
• They had access to large numbers of important books, not only religious ones - but monks in England were only permitted to borrow one book per year, which must not just be read, but analysed, interpreted and applied to the monk's own situation.
• Except in the most unusual circumstances monks had a guaranteed daily allowance of food and drink, a place to sleep and meaningful work which helped their own community.
• In many cases additional foodstuffs (called pittances) were permitted as an extra treat - sometimes even meat was allowed, although in general it was banned.
• Monks knew that when they became old and frail they had a guaranteed place in the monastery infirmary, where they would be cared for and had a peaceful existence away from the daily toils of the younger brethren. Ailments would be treated with herbal remedies and there was a chapel attached to the infirmary where they could follow the daily services if they were able.
• Because monasteries had little contact with the world outside their walls, disease and contagion was less likely to strike those within. Combined with a nourishing and regular (if somewhat boring) diet, the life expectancy of a monk was far greater than for those outside.
• Perhaps the major benefit, for those who chose the monastic life, was the belief that they were already well on the path to Heaven and eternal life.

There were certainly many disadvantages as well.