Problematyka cnoty ubóstwa w Kościele zachodnim początków VI wieku. Na przykładzie tzw. Reguły Mistrza (Reguła Magistri)

Abstract

Undoubtedly the spreading of the cenobites ideal generated the radicalization of approach to the issue of possession and use of material goods in the 6th century Western Church. This realistic perspective which was already stabilized opinion in fourth-fifth century theology has been slowly fading. Private ownership was allowed for feudal lords but for ordinary people or monks it was simply the wickedness. Monastic spirituality in the “Regula Magistri” called for ridding oneself of possession. Ordinary monks hadn’t any property of their own. The only one owner in the abbey was living abbot. He managed all material goods and divided them among all the monks in his abbey. Monks shouldn’t find any pleasure in material goods because the only support that never fails is God. To reach Heaven should be the only monks’ desire. It seems, that, the trend to concentrate jurisdiction over the entire abbey’s property in the abbot’s power resulted from Roman civil law. Abbot managed the cloisters’ property in a way of corporative possession administration.