Florilegium

Definition: A florilegium is a collection of verses and passages that monks would compile. In monastic life under the Benedictine Rule, each monk would have a yearly book that he was responsible for completing. Due to the rigor of monastic life, Benedictine monks did not have much time for intellectual practices like reading. While most monks did not usually surpass this requirement, it is likely that a few did go on to read more than one book annually. When they did read, the monks kept a journal of sorts to note important passages (Southern 190-191). This selection became known as the florilegium.

Importance: This personal study conducted by each Benedictine monk may not appear to the modern reader to be of much interest. On the contrary, this is actually quite significant because this development became the precursor to the scholastic method. Collection and arrangement of these important passages eventually developed into intellectual curiosity and inquiry about these quotes. Discussions about theological truths and the manner in which they are discussed even today stemmed from these florilegia established in Benedictine monasteries (Southern 191).

source: http://maverickphilosopher.typepad.com/maverick_philosopher/2014/10/word-of-the-day-florilegium.html