ABSTRACT
A major aspect of the work of the abbot of St Albans emanated from his duty to encourage learning within the monastery. The Rule of St Benedict encouraged study or lectio divina as one of the ways by which idleness, with its intrinsic dangers to the soul, might be avoided.1 For this reason, sacred reading played a vital role in the daily life of the monks. From Easter to 14 September, the Rule required that the monks were to occupy themselves in reading from the fourth to the sixth hour, that is from 10 until midday, whilst from 15 September to the beginning of Lent, they were to read until the end of the second hour. During Lent, this period increased, lasting until the third hour.2 At that time each monk was to receive a book from the monastic library which he was to read through consecutively. Senior monks were appointed whose task was to go round the monastery at the time set aside for reading in order to ensure that no monk was neglecting his duty.3
