The infirmarer / infirmarian

Was the infirmarer expected to eat in the infirmary with the inmates or with the rest of the monks in the refectory?
The infirmarer was generally expected to return and dine in the monks’ refectory after he had tended the sick. However, if there was only one monk in the infirmary and he requested the infirmarer to stay with him, the infirmarer was eat with the lone inmate.

The infirmarer (or server of the sick) was the monastic official in charge of the abbey’s infirmary. His was an important and prestigious post. The infirmarer oversaw the care of the sick and also those recuperating after bloodletting, which was periodically undergone by every member of the community to keep him in good health. Elderly monks who were unable to observe the full rigours of the monastic life might also stay in the infirmary and be cared for by the infirmarer. The infirmarer was allowed to speak to the inmates of the infirmary, but was to do so quietly and in designated areas. This was not to be an excuse for gossip. His duties within the infirmary included making sure that the fire was lit, lighting the candles for Matins, cleaning the bowls that had been used at bloodletting and disposing of the blood. On Saturdays he washed the feet of anyone staying in the infirmary, if they wished, and shook their clothing.

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