I know people have many questions about all this, so here are the stages of becoming a monk at St Benedict's Abbey:
The first stage is entering the postulancy, in which I shall be a postulant. This is an inquiry stage, in which I live with the monks and participate in their life. I will pray with them every day, do manual labor around the Abbey, make peanut brittle (and hopefully other delectable delights as well), read, write, etc. This will begin on the First Vespers of the Feast of the Annunciation, August 14, 2013 and conclude on First Vespers of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 7, 2013.
Thereafter, God willing, I shall enter the novitiate, in which I shall be a novice. This is a period of one year and one day (according to Canon Law) in which I shall live the life of a monk in a more intense way. I shall receive a habit and perhaps a new name. This is a more formal period of probation, prior to my taking vows. It will begin on the First Vespers of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 7, 2013 and conclude on the feast itself on December 8, 2014.
Then I shall be a junior monk. This begins when I profess the three vows of a Benedictine. Usually, monks and nuns profess vows of the three Evangelical Counsels, poverty, chastity, and obedience. For the Benedictine, these are expressed differently as the three vows of stability, conversion of life, and obedience. Stability is the vow by which I express that this Abbey will be my home for the rest of my life. Conversion of life is a vow by which I commit myself to living a holy life and the monastic ideals each and every day. Obedience is a vow directed towards my Abbot as he directs my life as a monk. These vows will be temporary and shall last for three years.
After these four and a half years are over, God willing, I will profess my permanent vows, the same ones as above, and will live as a full-fledged monk for the rest of my life.
What do monks do all the time?
I remember hearing this question and discussing it with a particular monk, who's response was, "As little as possible!" The issue isn't about doing, it's about being. We live in a world that is active to the point of distraction of the really important things in life: facing one's weaknesses and striving to overcome them, living Christ's commandments to love God and to love neighbor as oneself, and keeping one's eyes fixed on God and Eternity, our final destiny. Monks live in such a way as to do this. They pray and work: ora et labora. So, from praying to teaching to picking corn and tomatoes, to washing dishes, to counseling people, to cheering at a Royal's game (will I have to change my allegiance from the Minnesota Twins to the Kansas City Royals?), to whatever they "do," they will be monks with their eyes fixed on God and Eternity, seeking there the source of their love and their joy.
Pray for me, that I may persevere in this beautiful life!
The first stage is entering the postulancy, in which I shall be a postulant. This is an inquiry stage, in which I live with the monks and participate in their life. I will pray with them every day, do manual labor around the Abbey, make peanut brittle (and hopefully other delectable delights as well), read, write, etc. This will begin on the First Vespers of the Feast of the Annunciation, August 14, 2013 and conclude on First Vespers of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 7, 2013.
Thereafter, God willing, I shall enter the novitiate, in which I shall be a novice. This is a period of one year and one day (according to Canon Law) in which I shall live the life of a monk in a more intense way. I shall receive a habit and perhaps a new name. This is a more formal period of probation, prior to my taking vows. It will begin on the First Vespers of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 7, 2013 and conclude on the feast itself on December 8, 2014.
Then I shall be a junior monk. This begins when I profess the three vows of a Benedictine. Usually, monks and nuns profess vows of the three Evangelical Counsels, poverty, chastity, and obedience. For the Benedictine, these are expressed differently as the three vows of stability, conversion of life, and obedience. Stability is the vow by which I express that this Abbey will be my home for the rest of my life. Conversion of life is a vow by which I commit myself to living a holy life and the monastic ideals each and every day. Obedience is a vow directed towards my Abbot as he directs my life as a monk. These vows will be temporary and shall last for three years.
After these four and a half years are over, God willing, I will profess my permanent vows, the same ones as above, and will live as a full-fledged monk for the rest of my life.
What do monks do all the time?
I remember hearing this question and discussing it with a particular monk, who's response was, "As little as possible!" The issue isn't about doing, it's about being. We live in a world that is active to the point of distraction of the really important things in life: facing one's weaknesses and striving to overcome them, living Christ's commandments to love God and to love neighbor as oneself, and keeping one's eyes fixed on God and Eternity, our final destiny. Monks live in such a way as to do this. They pray and work: ora et labora. So, from praying to teaching to picking corn and tomatoes, to washing dishes, to counseling people, to cheering at a Royal's game (will I have to change my allegiance from the Minnesota Twins to the Kansas City Royals?), to whatever they "do," they will be monks with their eyes fixed on God and Eternity, seeking there the source of their love and their joy.
Pray for me, that I may persevere in this beautiful life!
I have a son & daughter-in-law that graduated from Benedictine College and a daughter who has just completed her freshmen year there. We LOVE the Abbey and the monks who are such a beautiful presence of Christ on the campus grounds. Prayers upon prayers coming your way.
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