Such notions are not entirely the case. I am not saying that Calvin completely legitimized a monastic aspect of the Church. However, it is important for us Calvinists to know that he wasn't nearly as opposed to aspects of it as is commonly thought. Listen to what he says in the Institutes:
"It is to be observed,
that the ancient mode of living in monasteries was very different. The persons
who retired to them were those who wished to train themselves to the greatest
austerity and patience. The discipline practised by the monks then resembled
that which the Spartans are said to have used under the laws of Lycurgus, and
was even much more rigorous. They slept on the ground, their drink was water,
their food bread, herbs, and roots, their chief luxuries oil and pulse (a type of soup). From
more delicate food and care of the body they abstained. These things might seem
hyperbolical were they not vouched by experienced eye-witnesses, as Gregory
Nazianzen, Basil, and Chrysostom. By such rudimentary training they prepared
themselves for greater offices. For of the fact that monastic colleges were
then kinds of seminaries of the ecclesiastical order, all those whom we
lately named are very competent witnesses, (they were all brought up in
monasteries, and thence called to the episcopal office), as well as several
other great and excellent men of their age. Augustine also shows that in his
time the monasteries were wont to furnish the Church with clergy."
In this segment of the Institutes, Calvin is addressing the corrupt monasticism of his day. He was challenging the claim of the Catholics during his time whenever they said that they have maintained the ancient forms of monasticism. He goes on to compare the monastics of his time with the monastics of the ancient Church, and this is where the quote comes from.
There are several important things for us to observe in what Calvin says:
-He has an admiration for the ancient "mode" of monasticism, claiming that these ancient monks and nuns were even more rigorous in their training in godliness than the Spartans were in training for war.
-He saw these ancient monasteries as forms of seminaries which were also useful in training its participants for ministry and leadership in the Church.
-For him, the proof is in the pudding. He also deals with the skeptic in this quote: do these things seem "hyperbolical," like an over the top way of living? "Well, look at the people who have vouched for this ancient practice: Gregory Nazianzen, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom and Augustine," he says. He then goes on to point out that these great men of the faith and significant figures of the Church were even brought up in monasticism. In other words, can we accept the Trinitarian theology of Gregory Nazianzen or Basil, the commentaries of Chrysostom or the salvation theology of Augustine if we completely deny the way in which they lived, which was nothing less than the monastic way? How can we accept their theology while we completely denounce their way of life?
Again, I am not making the claim that Calvin was 100% supportive of monasticism. However, it is important for us who follow the tradition that essentially originated with him to at least acknowledge that he wasn't 100% opposed to it either. Like Calvin, we should be able to acknowledge and cherish the wisdom that is found in the Church Fathers, not only giving legitimacy to their teaching, but also allowing the way in which they lived out their teaching to both inspire and influence us.
There are several important things for us to observe in what Calvin says:
-He has an admiration for the ancient "mode" of monasticism, claiming that these ancient monks and nuns were even more rigorous in their training in godliness than the Spartans were in training for war.
-He saw these ancient monasteries as forms of seminaries which were also useful in training its participants for ministry and leadership in the Church.
-For him, the proof is in the pudding. He also deals with the skeptic in this quote: do these things seem "hyperbolical," like an over the top way of living? "Well, look at the people who have vouched for this ancient practice: Gregory Nazianzen, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom and Augustine," he says. He then goes on to point out that these great men of the faith and significant figures of the Church were even brought up in monasticism. In other words, can we accept the Trinitarian theology of Gregory Nazianzen or Basil, the commentaries of Chrysostom or the salvation theology of Augustine if we completely deny the way in which they lived, which was nothing less than the monastic way? How can we accept their theology while we completely denounce their way of life?
Again, I am not making the claim that Calvin was 100% supportive of monasticism. However, it is important for us who follow the tradition that essentially originated with him to at least acknowledge that he wasn't 100% opposed to it either. Like Calvin, we should be able to acknowledge and cherish the wisdom that is found in the Church Fathers, not only giving legitimacy to their teaching, but also allowing the way in which they lived out their teaching to both inspire and influence us.
