The monastic orders, as we have alreadj' indicated, were at first under the immediate jurisdiction of the bishops, but they were exempted from them by the Roman pontiff about the end of the 7th century (Boni- face IV) ; and the monks, in turn, devoted themselves wholly to advancing the interests and to maintaining the dignity of the bisliop of Eome. ' ' The partiality of the popes for monastic orders," says Cramp, " is easily accounted for. They constitute a peculiar and dis- tinct body, so estranged from society that they can give undivided attention and solicitude to any object that is presented to their notice. That object has uni- formly been the aggrandizement of the Church — that is, the See of Rome. Incorporated by pontifical au- thority, exempted to a degree from episcopal jurisdic- tion, and endowed with many privileges and favors from which the rest of the faithful are excluded, the}^ are bound in gratitude to make the pope's interest their own. Histor}' records that they have ever been ready to come forward in support of tlie most glaring enormities of the papal sj'stem, and that to their inde- fatigable diligence and adroit management the trium- phant progress of that system was mainly indebted. They formed a sort of local militia, stationed in every country in Europe, always prepared to uphold the cause to which tlie}' had attached themselves, by ag- gression, defence, or imposture, as the case might re- quire" (Text-book of Popery, p. 359). The immunity which the monks thus obtained was a fruitful source of licentiousness and disorder, and largelj^ occasioned the vices with which they were afterwards so justly charged. In the 8th century the monastic discipline was extremely relaxed, and all efforts to restore it were ineffectual. Nevertheless, this kind of institu- tion was in the highest esteem ; and nothing could equal the veneration that was paid about the close of the 9th century to such as devoted themselves to the gloom and indolence of a convent. This veneration caused several kings and emperors to call monks to their courts, and to employ them in civil affairs of the great- est moment. Their reformation was attempted by Louis the Meek, but the effect was of short duration. In the 11th century they were exempted Ijy the popes from the authority established ; liut this caused such laxity that in the Council of Lateran, in 1215, a decree was passed, bj' the advice of Innocent III. to prevent any new monastic institutions ; and several were en- tirely suppressed. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it ap- pears, from the testimony of the best writers, that the monks were generally lazy, illiterate, profligate, and licentious epicures, whose views in life were confined to opulence, idleness, and pleasure. " Whenever a general council was assembled," says Cramp, " the ir- regularities or usurpations of the monastic orders commonly occupied a large share of the proceedings. Canon after canon was issued, and still the interposi- tion of ecclesiastical authorit)' was constant!}' required. An abstract of the decree passed on this subject in the twentj'-fifth session of the Council of Trent will place before the reader the then existing condition of that YI.-I I
portion of the Roman Catholic Church. It was enact- ed that care should be talien to procure s'trict observ- ance of the rules of the respective professions ; that no regular should be allowed to possess any private prop- erty, but should surrender ever^'thing to his superior; that all monasteries, even those of the mendicants (tlie Capuchins and friars minor Observantines excepted at their own request), should be permitted to hold estates and other wealth ; that no monk should be suffered.to undertake any office whatever without his superior's consent, nor quit the convent without a written per- mission ; that nunneries should be careful!}' closed, and egress be absolutely forbidden the nuns, under any ^ pretense whatsoever, without episcopal license, on pain of excommunication — magistrates being enjoined un- der the same penalty to aid the bishop, if necessary, bj' employing force, and the latter being urged to their duty by the fear of the judgment of God and the eter- nal curse ; that monastics should confess and receive the eucharist at least once a month ; that if anj' pub- lic scandal should arise out of their conduct, they should be judged and punished by the superior, or, in case of his failure, bj' the bishop ; that no renunciation ■* of property or pecuniary engagement should be valid unless made within two months of taking the vows of religious profession ; that immediately after the novi- tiate, the novices should either be dismissed or take the vow, and that if thej' were dismissed, nothing should be received from them but a reasonable pav- ment for their board, lodging, and clothing during the novitiate ; that no females should take the veil with- out previous examination by the bishop ; that whoever compelled females to enter convents against their will, from avaricious or other motives, or, on the otiier hand, hindered such as were desirous of the monastic life, should be excommunicated ; that if any monk or nun pretended that they had taken the vows under the in- fluence of force or fear, or before the age appointed by law, they should not be heard, except within five years after their profession — if thej' laid aside the habit of their own accord, tliey should not be permitted to make the complaint, but be compelled to return to the monas- tery, and be punished as apostates, being in the mean time deprived of all the privileges of their order. Fi- nally, with regard to the general reformation of the corruptions and abuses which existed in convents, the council lamented the great difficulty of applying any effectual remed}-, but hoped that the supreme pontiff would piously and prudenth' provide for the exigen- cies of the case as far as the times would bear" (Text- book of Poperij, p. 359). However, the Reformation had a manifest influence in restraining these excesses, and in rendering monastics more circumspect and cau- tious in their external conduct. See Monastery and MoNASTicisM ; also Monks, Eastern. (J. H. W.)