Conclusion

A lot of people see monks as reclusive and out of touch with the real world. However, the truth of the matter is that the different monastic orders matter a great deal. A Cistercian monk is very different from a Franciscan monk. They both have very different goals and objectives. Cistercians didn't want to be part of the world, but at the same time they knew they needed to spread the message of the gospel and to spread their own ideologies.  These conflicts and goals are reflected through monastic orders’ patronage and their use of illuminated manuscripts. These manuscripts were the perfect tool to spread information and have it be kept in history for hundreds of years after they had been written.