Most high-ranking clergymen, such as bishops, were of noble birth.
They devoted their lives to the church, yet remained rulers of large fiefs and lived with the same wealth of military lords.
Monks lived within the monasteries and devoted time to religious scholarship.
They were also members of the and their days were filled with studying, praying,and participating church services.
Many peasants joined the clergy as village who typically resided in small cottages near their church offered advice, helped settle disputes, and performed ceremonies.
However, becoming a member of the clergy was necessarily a passport to wealth, as most priests lived the life of the peasants whom they served