Letter 8

From: [Visigothic Church official] To: [Visigothic Church official] Date: ~596 AD Context: Epistulae Wisigothicae letter 8; on the governance of monasteries and the relationship between monastic and episcopal authority in the post-conversion Visigothic church. To my beloved colleague in the episcopate, The question of monastic governance is one on which the Visigothic church has not yet arrived at a settled and consistent practice, and I write partly to share my own approach and partly to hear yours. The monasteries that were founded in the old Arian church present a particular challenge: some of them were well-run houses with genuine spiritual depth; others were more nominal than real. The process of bringing them all under Catholic episcopal oversight has been uneven. What I have found works best is a gradual approach: establish the principle of episcopal visitation clearly and firmly, but exercise that visitation in a spirit of support rather than inspection. Come to the monastery as a father who wants to help, not as an auditor who is looking for violations. The abbots who are genuinely trying to run their houses well will welcome this approach; those who are not will reveal themselves over time. On the specific question of the monastery rule: I have been strongly influenced by the Rule of Benedict [Benedict of Nursia's rule for monastic life, written c. 530, which was becoming increasingly influential in the Latin church] and I recommend it to abbots who are looking for a framework. Its combination of balance, clarity, and genuine spiritual depth seems to me exactly what the monasteries of our kingdom need. Your brother in the faith