Legal Definitions - hostilaria

A hostilaria refers to a designated area or room within a religious institution, such as a monastery, abbey, or convent, specifically set aside for the temporary accommodation of guests, travelers, or individuals seeking shelter or spiritual retreat. It serves as a guesthouse for those who are not permanent members of the religious community.

• Example 1: Imagine a weary pilgrim in the 12th century, traveling across Europe and needing a safe place to rest for the night. Upon arriving at a large Benedictine abbey, the pilgrim would be directed to the abbey's hostilaria.

  This illustrates the term because the hostilaria was the specific part of the religious house equipped and intended to provide lodging and basic provisions for transient visitors, distinct from the living quarters of the monks themselves.

• Example 2: A modern-day scholar is conducting extensive research on ancient texts preserved in the library of a historic Dominican priory. The priory offers her a private room on its grounds for a week to facilitate her studies.

  In this scenario, the room provided to the scholar functions as the hostilaria of the priory. It is a dedicated guest accommodation within the religious establishment, allowing a non-member to reside on-site temporarily for a specific purpose.

• Example 3: An individual seeking a period of quiet reflection and spiritual renewal decides to spend a few days at a contemporary Cistercian monastery that welcomes retreatants.

  The private cell or room, along with any shared guest facilities provided for this individual during their stay, would collectively represent the hostilaria. These are the spaces specifically allocated by the religious community for the temporary housing of guests and those on spiritual retreats.