abbey Another term for monastery, where monks and priests live in community
abbot The superior of an abbey
Bernard of Clairvaux French abbot (1090–1153) who became well known for his mystical writings. He became a saint and was named a Doctor of the Church.
chain mail A type of armor made of metal links
chapter house A building attached to a monastery or a cathedral in which meetings are held and business addressed
compline Part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the public prayer of the Church to praise God and sanctify the day. Also known as Night Prayer, compline is the final prayer of the day, said before bedtime.
Crusades A series of medieval military campaigns between Christians and Muslims for control of sites in the Holy Land
granges Another term for farmlands
infirmary A place where sick or injured people receive treatment and care
land baron A nobleman who was given a title and land in exchange for pledging allegiance to the king
lettered Formally educated
mace A heavy club with metal spikes used in the Middle Ages
Moors The term used in medieval times to refer to Muslims who lived in what is now Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. In the Crusades, the Christians and the Moors fought for control of the Holy Land.
narthex The lobby area leading into a medieval cathedral
nocturns The term for the three division in Matins, the prayer said during the night in the Liturgy of the Hours
nones The midafternoon prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, the public prayer of the Church to praise God and sanctify the day. Nones are prayed at approximately 3 p.m.
novice A monk in training who has not yet taken final vows. The purpose of the novitiate period is to determine if the novice is truly called to the religious life.
obedientiary A lesser official in a medieval monastery who reports to the abbot and the prior
prime The morning prayer in Liturgy of the Hours, the public prayer of the Church to praise God and sanctify the day. Prime is prayed at approximately 6 a.m.
prior The person in charge of the abbey after the abbot
quarrel The arrow designed for a crossbow
refectory The dining room of a monastery
Saint Benedict The founder of the Benedictine Order (A.D. 480–547)
scriptorium a room, often in a monastery, where Scripture and other important books were copied by hand
seal A symbol imprinted in hot wax used to seal a document. The imprint identifies the sender of the document, and the intact seal provides proof that the document has not been opened by anyone else.
sext The midday prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, the public prayer of the Church to praise God and sanctify the day. It is prayed at approximately noon.
shire A county or similar division of land
terce The midmorning prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, the public prayer of the Church to praise God and sanctify the day. It is prayed at approximately 9 a.m.
The Rule The book written by Benedict in 516 of the rules and concepts for how a monastic community should live. The Rule addressed spiritual and practical matters and helped shape how religious orders were organized and operated.
whipping rod A small whip that a person would use to strike himself or herself on the back as a form of voluntary penance, considered a way to discipline the physical body for spiritual benefit. This practice, also called flagellation, was condemned by Pope Clement VI in 1349 because of widespread abuses.