The Porter of the Monastery –
Br. Ricky’s Research Notes

Amma Jane here.  Br. Ricky asked me to share his research on the porter of the monastery.  He is hurrying to send out the Fall 2022 Mewsletter.

What is the root of the word porter?

The word porter comes from the Latin portatorem, one who carries.

FUN FACT:  The dark, sweet beer known as porter or porter’s ale comes from the same root word — because its taste and low price was the favorite of porters and other laborers.

For more information about derivation of the porter, see https://etymologeek.com/eng/porter/68394102

Br. Ricky found this interesting fact:  The name originates as an Old French occupational name, portier (gatekeeper), or porteour (“to carry”). Its earliest public record is 1086 at Winchester Castle.  [1]

Selected Notes From “Guarding the gate: The Changing Role of the Porter in the Medieval Monastery” by Harriet Mahood

For full text see https://www.academia.edu/19168111/Guarding_the_Gate

The Early History of Porters

Pachomius(c. 292-346 A.D.) was an early Egyptian ascetic who is considered to be the founder of cenobitic monasticism.  In his rule the porter first appears in a passage about the acceptance of new brothers. The prospective monastic was then in the care of the porter.  The porter was also responsible for informing the head of the monastery of visitors.

The role of the porter was well defined by Pachomius.  The porter’s responsibility of controlling and granting access to the world outside the monastery remained largely unchanged over the years.  It was an important role as the porter controlled the monastery’s security.

(Br. Ricky’s sidenote:  Check with Amma to see if security is in the role description for the Feline Cloister Porter, Sr. Nikki.)

The majority of Ms. Mahood’s information about porters originates from customaries. Customaries describe local procedures and duties of monastic leadership at a given monastery or monasteries. [2]

The amazing Cluny Abbey 

Porters in the Church

In the Roman Catholic Church the “porter” became the lowest of the four minor orders prescribed by the Council of Trent between 1545 and 1565. This was the first order a seminarian was admitted to after receiving the usual haircut (tonsure).  The porter would open and close the church-door.  He was to guard the church ensuring that no unbaptized persons would enter during the Eucharist.  Later on, the porter would also guard, open and close the doors of the Sacristy, Baptistry and elsewhere in the church.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostiarius

Notes Br. Ricky Made When He Culled The Rule of the Master [4]

[This rule was a main written resource from which Benedict created his rule.  Benedict reduced, modified, and added to it to reflect his understanding of monastic practice.) 

(A question from Br. Ricky: “The Porter of the Monastery” is the last chapter in the Rule of the Master.  I wonder if the Master didn’t think the porter was that important and so tacked the chapter on at the end?)

“Inside the gates of the monastery a cell is to be built for two brothers advanced in age (decrepit).  Posted there, let them at all times close up the monastery behind those who leave and open it for those who are coming in, and also announce arrivals to the abbot.”  (95.1-3)   

“As long as opening and closing keeps them busy, no other work is to be asked of them.”  If they aren’t busy they were to do a craft or assist weekly servers as they are physically able. (95.6-9)

 More porter tasks in the Rule of the Master:

They feed the dogs.  85.10

They take care of the animals.   95.11

They clean the gate and every day the night lamp.  95.12-13

They eat with the abbot “as a mark of respect for their age.”  95.14

(About the above Br. Ricky made a note to see if further research might show the care and feeding of felines.) 

The Tension Between Welcoming Visitors and Protecting Monastics

(Here Br. Ricky had a bunch of exclamation points through his notes.  He writes…)

I understand now why what seemed out of place is in place.  Following the description of the porter there is an instruction that the monastery has all things needed.  That way no one need roam outside, “because this is not good at all for their souls.” (RB 66.7)    The history of the porter indicates the need for the monastery to remain isolated , secluded, protected.  The porter saw to this.  But in the Rule of St. Benedict the porter also welcomes the visitor with open arms and seeks to meet their needs.

The great human Benedictine scholar, Adalbert de Vogüé says, “Wide is the reception, but strict the cloister.” [6]

The esteemed Benedictine Scholar Br. Terrence Sebastian Furling, OSB-F, PhD-F

Br. Ricky’s Notes on Practical Application

An important instruction for today comes from the porter of the monastery:  “The way we answer doors is the way we deal with the world.” [8]  (Br. Ricky pawed an additional side-note that it is also the way we answer phones, emails, texts, visitors, etc.)

For a Memo to the Feline Cloister:  We can be porter for everyone by who we are, greeting all in the name of Christ.  Our welcome should be one that reflects who we are as Christinas and lovers of God.  We can infuse our greeting with this.  We receive Christ.  We offer Christ.  We communicate the spirit of Christ as porter to all we meet.  Yet we remain rooted in Christ and protected as we interact with those outside the Cloister.