the landowning warrior classes of Europe could effectively offset their sins by paying for monks to beg forgiveness their behalf in the form of masses.* The result was that from the ninth century onward, founding, endowing, or donating to monasteries became a popular pastime for rich men and women. And like all rich-people pastimes throughout history, it quickly became the object of fashion, competition, and one-upmanship. Monasteries that could demonstrate the finest standards of observance, grandest churches and libraries, largest and most devout communities, and best international
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