### monk, mass
Monk The person who went to a monastic community to obtain a greater spiritual perfection. He took an oath of chastity, poverty and obedience. Part of the monks consecrated their lives to meditative life style and praying for the world (monastic orders: Benedictine, Cistercian), others to active life, being pastors (canon orders: Premontrian, Augustine and the Canons), others preferred converting people, preaching and idealising poverty (begging orders: Dominican, Franciscan) or caring for the sick, fighting and protecting travellers (knight orders: Johannita, Knights of the Temple). The literature they cultivated and created represents different genres and ideals. SzK mass According to Christian teaching it is the sacred representation of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. This expression meant service since the 4th century. The two parts of the mass are: the liturgy of the Scripture (Bible study students - who are not yet baptised - can participate in this part) and the actual holy communion (only those who were baptised can participate in this). Songs have been an integral part of Christian masses from the very beginning, since every communal and celebrational preaching took place in the form of recitative motifs (beginning, dividing and closing melodies) for medieval people. According to our present day notions it was a chant-speach, a stylised song. The structure of the mass, which became fixed during the first millenium, consists of fixed (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus-Benedictus, Agnus Dei) and changing parts (Introitus, Graduale, Alleluia or Tractus, Offertorium and Communio). MJ