WM Trithemius

"Scribes, therefore, are the heralds of the divine will which they have handed down to us through the visible written word." (WM 472)

Top four benefits of being a scribe:

    Time is put to productive use

    Mind becomes "illuminated"

    Sentiments are "enkindled to total surrender"

    Reward in after life

        Trithemius asserts that copying manuscripts forces the scribe to focus, analyze, and connect with each word he/she is copying. Because the majority of works being copied by monks were religious, the act of re-writing entire collections allowed the monks to connect with written word of God. Trithemius also emphasis the importance of remaining busy doing the work of God, and by copying religious works, one can spread the message of God more thoroughly than that of a preacher. Thrithemius fights against the fall of hand copying manuscripts, and ask each monk to carry on the tradition, not only for themselves, but for others.  Hand copying text calls for patience, discipline, and focus, all characteristics that monks strive for. The entire passage focused on the importance of Monk's remaining busy, and one of the most productive ways to do so is to copy the scripture.