How medieval monks tried to stay warm in the winter
The Conversation••world
Key Points:
- Monasteries were ideally located near water and wood, essential for daily needs such as washing, sanitation, ink-making, and building materials, as emphasized by monastic chroniclers like Orderic Vitalis.
- The Benedictine Rule, dominant in medieval monasticism, stressed spiritual focus, obedience, humility, and material austerity, with monks forbidden from personal wealth despite institutional riches.
- Monastic life involved enduring physical discomfort as a path to spiritual worth, with limited concessions for cold; monks wore only slightly warmer clothing in winter, reflecting the austere conditions especially in northern climates.
- The calefactorium, or warming room, was a rare heated space within monasteries, serving as a vital refuge from cold for small groups
