As bibliotecas nos mosteiros da antiga Congrega o Beneditina Portuguesa

This paper intends to highlight the importance the Benedictines gave to culture in theirmonasteries, in accordance with the rule of St. Benedict, whether through the scriptoria in the Middle Ages,or in their libraries since the 16th century. In this regard, focus is brought to bear on the role of the monasteriesof the Portuguese Benedictine Congregation (1567-1834), and the relevance given to libraries in Portuguesemonasteries. To achieve this goal, a document dating from 1785 that was published by Camilo Castelo Branco(cfr. Mosaico e Silva) is analysed, as well as the monasteries’ inventories at the time when the religious orderswere expelled from Portugal in 1834.