
“Let
us get up, at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they
say:
It is high time for us to arise from sleep (Rom. 13:11). Let us
open
our eyes to the light that comes from God, and our ears to the voice
from
heaven that every day calls out this charge: If you hear his
voice
today, do not harden your hearts (Ps. 94: 8)”.
- Prologue of the Rule of St. Benedict
Think You Have a
Monastic Vocation?
Everyone
has a
vocation that God has placed in our hearts. It
is up to us to respond positively to His specific
calling in our lives. Whether it be the vocation
to the priesthood, married life or a vowed religious community, it is
directly
related to
our salvation because it is our way of saying “yes” to the Lord's
will.
This is why praying to God and asking Him to guide you is so
important. He speaks, but we need to be attentive at all
times. His voice could be in an attraction to a life that is
dedicated to seeking God, a simple curiosity about monastic life, the
suggestion of a friend or even a hunger to find a deeper meaning to
life. It is our responsibility and obligation to obey the Lord's
will!
"The monk, like the
good
servant waiting for his Lord perseveringly in the monastery intent upon
the tools of the spiritual craft, hastens to the Kingdom's joys, which
he experiences in the world, in anticipation through faith.
Making
use of this world as though he were not using it, living in the world
but
at the same time practicing flight from the world, the monk becomes a
sign
of witness in the Church and in the world of the coming of the Reign of
God” (Declarations, Chapter 5, nos. 88&89).
Qualifications
To
become
a monk does not have a specific academic requirement (besides a high
school
diploma or GED), but a level of maturity and character suited for life
in a religious community is necessary. A candidate must be a
fully initiated Catholic (having received the sacraments of baptism,
Eucharist
and confirmation) and have a desire to serve God through work and
prayer
in the context of a supportive community. The candidate must be
free
from financial debt or other legal obligations. Being guided by
his
confreres, he will be able to begin the life-long task of perfection in
the monastic life.
Stages of Formation
- 1. Candidacy
- the
initial stage in which a man inquires about the community (through
phone
calls or letters) and begins his preparation for entry into the
monastery.
Eventually, visits will be arranged in which the candidate can live
with
the community and experience life in the monastery. During this
time
he is to prepare his documentation (sacramental certificates, medical,
academic as well as references) and satisfy any financial debts.
- 2. Postulancy
- after
all the documentation has been collected and the candidate desires to
enter
the monastic life, he can begin to live with the community.
During
this time he will become more familiar with the daily schedule and the
demands of monastic life.
- 3. Novitiate
- under the guidance of a novice master, to help the candidate
recognize
the gift of his vocation, a one year period of preparation is begun for
the profession of monastic vows. The novitiate year will include
further formation on the Christian life, prayer, the vows, the Holy
Rule,
and the life and history of the congregation.
- 4. Temporary
Profession
- after the novitiate the novice makes the profession of monastic
vows.
Each year for three to six years, the vows can be renewed in
preparation
for the Solemn profession. During the years in temporary
profession,
guided by a director, the junior monk continues his formation in the
monastic
life. During this time he may also begin or continue studies in
preparation
for the priesthood or other areas of academic fields of education.
- 5. Solemn
Profession
- after three or more years of temporary profession, the junior monk
presents
a written petition to be accepted for the solemn profession of
vows.
If he is admitted, he can profess vows which will bind him to the
commitment
of monastic life. The solemnly professed monk continues to use
the
“tools of the spiritual craft” for the perfection in monastic life and
Christian virtue. If the monk has studied for the priesthood, he
would at this point be able to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.
If you believe
that
God might be calling you to our monastic way of life, feel free to fill
out our Initial Vocations Inquiry Form (it is
not
an application and holds no obligations) to begin a process of
discernment
with our community.