The Institutes, Book I

Book I

• The Institutes I.1 — Of the Monk's Girdle. As we are going to speak of the customs and rules of the monasteries, how by God’s grace can we better begin than with the actual dress of the monks, for we shall then be able to expound in due…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.2 — Of the Monk's Robe. Let the robe also of the monk be such as may merely cover the body and prevent the disgrace of nudity, and keep off harm from cold, not such as may foster the seeds of vanity and pride; for the…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.3 — Of the Hoods of the Egyptians. There are some things besides in the dress of the Egyptians which concern not the care of the body so much as the regulation of the character, that the observance of simplicity and…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.4 — Of the Tunics of the Egyptians. They wear also linen tunics which scarcely reach to the elbows, and for the rest leave their hands bare, that the cutting off of the sleeves may suggest that they have cut off all the…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.5 — Of their Cords. They also wear double scarves woven of woollen yarn which the Greeks call ἀνάλαβοι, but which we should name girdles or strings, or more properly cords. These falling down over the top of the neck and…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.6 — Of their Capes. Next they cover their necks and shoulders with a narrow cape, aiming at modesty of dress as well as cheapness and economy; and this is called in our language as well as theirs mafors; and so they…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.7 — Of the Sheepskin and the Goatskin. The last article of their dress is the goat-skin, which is called melotes, or pera, and a staff, which they carry in imitation of those who foreshadowed the lines of the monastic…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.8 — Of the Staff of the Egyptians. For Elisha, himself one of them, teaches that the same men used to carry a staff; as he says to Gehazi, his servant, when sending him to raise the woman’s son to life: “Take my staff…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.9 — Of their Shoes. But refusing shoes, as forbidden by the command of the gospel, if bodily weakness or the morning cold in winter or the scorching heat of midday compels them, they merely protect their feet with…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.10 — Of the modification in the observances which may be permitted in accordance with the character of the climate or the custom of the district. Of the modification in the observances which may be permitted in accordance…vatican.va
• The Institutes I.11 — Of the Spiritual Girdle and its Mystical Meaning. Clad, therefore, in these vestments, the soldier of Christ should know first of all that he is protected by the girdle tied round him, not only that he may be ready…vatican.va