The Genesis of Monastic Libraries

The reproduction of manuscript books in the Middle Ages by monks is related to the original goal of the monastic way of life, which is to live a life of prayer. Thus, the history of books and libraries in monasteries can be traced backward from the Rule of Benedict to the beginning of Christian monasticism in the desert of Egypt. This article examines several ancient documents to show how the first monks considered reading books—and assembling libraries—necessary for a specific form of prayer.