Devotion to religious life under vows of
poverty, chastity, and obedience, known to
Judaism (for example Essenes), Buddhism, and
other religions, before Christianity. In
Islam, the Sufis formed monastic orders from
the 12th century. history, Christian 3rd
century The institution of monasticism is
ascribed to St Anthony in Egypt, but the
inauguration of communal life is attributed
to his disciple, St Pachomius. Possibly
communities for women (nuns, from Latin nonna
`elderly woman') preceded those for men, and
most male orders have their female
counterpart. 6th century Full adaptation to
conditions in W Europe was made by St
Benedict, his `rule' being generally adopted.
10th century In 910 the founding of Cluny
began the system of orders whereby each
monastery was subordinated to a central
institution. 11th century During the Middle
Ages other forms of monasticism were
established, including the hermitlike
Carthusians 1084 and the Augustinian Canons,
who were clerics organized under a monastic
system. 12th century The military Knights
Templar and Knights Hospitallers of St John
were formed. 13th century The four mendicant
orders of friars - Franciscans, Dominicans,
Carmelites, and Augustinians - were
established, and monasticism reached the
height of its influence. 16th century Already
weakened by the wars, plagues, and schisms of
the 14th and 15th centuries, monasticism was
severely affected by the Reformation. A
revival came with the foundation of orders
dedicated to particular missions, such as the
great weapon of the Counter-Reformation, the
Society of Jesus (Jesuits) 1540. 17th century
The Trappist Cistercians were founded at La
Trappe. 18th century The French Revolution
exercised a repressive influence. 20th
century Since the Vatican II Council, the
trend in many orders is towards modern dress
and involvement outside the monastery,
despite disapproval by Pope John Paul II.