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The infirmarer (6/13) The infirmarer (or server of the sick) was the monastic official (obedientiary) in charge of the abbey’s infirmary. Here, he oversaw the care of the sick and those recuperating after bloodletting, as well as some elderly members of the community, who were unable to observe the full rigours of the monastic life. The infirmarer’s office was an important and prestigious post.
The infirmarer of the abbey at first slept in the common dormitory with the rest of the community; later on he probably had his own house within or near to the infirmary complex. In the thirteenth century the infirmarer at Roche seemingly had his own lodgings beside the abbot’s house.(6) The infirmarer acted first and foremost as an intermediary between the infirmary and the cloister. Whenever a monk was received in the infirmary it was the infirmarer’s responsibility to transfer his utensils from the refectory and his bedding from the dormitory; he replaced these once the monk had recovered and rejoined the community. Each day the infirmarer fetched the inmates’ daily allowance of food and drink from the cellarer, and borrowed from the abbey church books that were needed to celebrate the Offices in the infirmary chapel. He was to ensure that these and any other books were returned safely.
The infirmarer mediated between the sick and the rest of the community. He attended the daily chapter meeting and reported any matters of importance to the infirm. When one of his monks was ready to rejoin the community, the infirmarer sought authorisation from the abbot for his return to the cloister; if one of the brethren was about to die, he alerted the community so that the monks could gather together and make provision for his soul.
The infirmarer was responsible for the overall management of the infirmary complex. He alone was allowed to speak with the inmates, but was to do so quietly, in the designated areas and, of course, only to talk about appropriate matters - this was not an excuse for gossiping. The infirmarer’s duties within the infirmary included lighting the candles for Matins, cleaning the bowls that had been used at bloodletting and disposing of the blood, and ensuring that the fire was lit. On Saturdays he washed the feet of those who resided in the infirmary – if they so wished – and shook their clothing.
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