Communication with the brethren

The Rule of St Benedict makes it clear that conversation between monks and guests should be avoided. Nevertheless monks ought to be polite to any visitors they should happen to meet. For practical purposes a little necessary conversation was permitted to the guestmaster and anyone else who had a legitimate reason to speak with visitors. Over time the monastery's relationship with its patrons and benefactors, the regular arrival of messengers and of people seeking advice and conducting business, meant that interaction (and conversation) was an inevitable part of daily life in the monastery, but one that had to be monitored and controlled. Accordingly there were set procedures for guests to follow should they wish to speak with a member of the community. It was essential that permission was first sought from the abbot or prior. This was generally effected through the guestmaster, who mediated between guests and the convent. According to Lanfranc's Constitutions, any relative or stranger wishing to speak with either the abbot, the prior or a claustral monk, should inform the guestmaster who would intimate this to the abbot or prior.