Initial Contact and Visiting Monasteries: Experiencing the Life Firsthand
Taking the first step towards monastic life can feel daunting, but it’s simpler than you might think. Begin by researching different monastic communities. Catholic monasteries vary significantly in their charism (spiritual focus), location, size, and even the specific order they belong to (Benedictine, Cistercian, Trappist, etc.). Consider what draws you to monasticism in the first place. Are you drawn to a life of silent contemplation, scholarly pursuits, or active ministry within a community? Once you’ve identified a few communities that resonate with you, reach out and make contact.
Making Initial Contact
Most monasteries have websites and contact information readily available. An initial email or phone call expressing your interest is a perfect starting point. Briefly explain your interest in their community and ask about opportunities for visits or retreats. Be polite, respectful, and patient. Remember, these communities are often busy with prayer and work, so it may take some time for them to respond. Don’t be discouraged! Persistence is key.
Arranging a Visit
Once you’ve heard back from the monastery, inquire about arranging a visit. Many monasteries welcome visitors and offer opportunities for short-term stays, sometimes referred to as “oblateships” or “come and see” weekends. These visits are invaluable as they allow you to experience the daily rhythm of monastic life firsthand. During your stay, you’ll participate in prayer services, meals, and potentially some work alongside the monks. This immersive experience will give you a much clearer understanding of the community and its way of life.
Experiencing Monastic Life Firsthand
The experience of visiting a monastery is unique to each individual and each community. Embrace the opportunity to observe and participate. What is the atmosphere like? How do the monks interact with each other and with guests? Pay attention to the rhythm of the day, the balance of prayer, work, and leisure. Don’t hesitate to ask questions of the monks, but also embrace periods of quiet reflection. This is a chance to discern if this particular community and lifestyle aligns with your calling. Consider journaling your experiences and reflections. This will be a valuable tool for you as you continue your discernment process.
While visiting, try to get a sense of the community’s core values. What are they passionate about? What is the focus of their prayer and work? Observe the dynamics between the monks. Do they seem genuinely happy and supportive of one another? Reflect on how you feel within the community. Do you feel a sense of peace and belonging? Or do you feel a sense of unease or disconnect? These gut feelings can be important indicators as you discern your path. It’s also crucial to remember that no community is perfect. Every monastery has its own challenges and imperfections. Focus on discerning if the community’s strengths resonate with you and if you can see yourself thriving in that environment. Don’t be afraid to visit multiple monasteries before making any decisions. The more experience you gain, the clearer your calling will become.
Here is a sample table with potential questions you might consider asking during your visit:
| Area of Inquiry | Potential Questions |
|---|---|
| Daily Life | What is the daily schedule like? What types of work do the monks engage in? How is free time spent? |
| Community | What is the community’s charism or spiritual focus? How do the monks support one another? How are decisions made within the community? |
| Formation Process | What is the process of becoming a monk in this community? How long does the formation process typically take? What are the stages of formation? |
| Personal Discernment | Who can I talk to about my vocation? What resources are available to help me discern my calling? |
The Novitiate: Deeper Formation and Spiritual Growth
The novitiate is a crucial period of transition and intense spiritual formation, typically lasting one year, sometimes extended to two. It’s a time dedicated to discerning whether monastic life truly aligns with your calling and preparing for the commitment of making temporary vows.
What Happens During the Novitiate?
During the novitiate, you’ll delve deeper into the monastic way of life, focusing on prayer, community living, and the specific charism of the order you’ve chosen. Think of it as an immersive experience, a chance to fully embrace the rhythm of monastic life before making any long-term promises.
Studies and Formation
You’ll engage in studies about monastic history, spirituality, and the Rule of the order. These studies provide a strong foundation for understanding the rich tradition you’re entering and how to live it authentically. Classes might cover topics like lectio divina (sacred reading), the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and the history of the order’s founder and saints.
Community Life
Living in community is central to monasticism. The novitiate offers an opportunity to learn how to live and work alongside others who share your commitment to God. You’ll learn the practicalities of communal living, such as sharing chores, participating in community meetings, and navigating interpersonal dynamics. It’s a time to cultivate patience, humility, and charity in your interactions with your brothers.
Prayer and Spiritual Direction
Prayer is the cornerstone of monastic life. During the novitiate, you’ll deepen your prayer life through practices like liturgical prayer, personal meditation, and contemplative silence. You’ll likely meet regularly with a spiritual director who can guide you on your spiritual journey and help you discern God’s will for your life.
Work and Service
Monasteries often engage in various forms of work, whether it’s farming, crafting, teaching, or running a retreat center. As a novice, you’ll be introduced to the work of the community and contribute your skills and talents. This work is not just a means to an end, but an integral part of monastic life, fostering a sense of purpose and humility.
Detachment from the World
The novitiate involves a significant degree of detachment from the outside world. This might involve limiting contact with family and friends, reducing access to media and technology, and focusing on the interior life. This separation is not meant to be a rejection of the world but rather a time of intentional withdrawal to cultivate a deeper relationship with God and prepare for the commitments of monastic life. This involves a careful examination of your attachments and motivations, letting go of things that might hinder your spiritual growth. You’ll be guided through this process by the novice master and your fellow novices, learning to rely more fully on God and your monastic community. This period of detachment also allows you to experience the freedom that comes with simplifying your life and focusing on what truly matters. It is a period of intense self-discovery and a deepening of your commitment to the monastic path. Think of it as a period of purification, a stripping away of the non-essential to make space for God. This process can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding, allowing you to experience a profound sense of peace and purpose. During this time, novices focus on cultivating inner stillness and listening to the quiet voice of God. They delve deeper into the spiritual practices of the community, such as Lectio Divina (divine reading) and contemplative prayer, further strengthening their relationship with God and their understanding of the monastic life. This focused detachment from the outside world strengthens the novice’s connection to the monastic community, forming bonds of brotherhood that will sustain them throughout their monastic journey.
A Typical Day in the Novitiate
A typical day in the novitiate might look something like this:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| Early Morning | Vigils (Night Prayer) and Personal Meditation |
| Morning | Lauds (Morning Prayer), Breakfast, Work Period |
| Midday | Midday Prayer, Lunch, Rest/Reading |
| Afternoon | Study, Work Period, Spiritual Direction |
| Evening | Vespers (Evening Prayer), Dinner, Recreation |
| Night | Compline (Night Prayer), Silence, Rest |
Temporary Profession: Taking Initial Vows
After the period of postulancy and novitiate, which typically lasts around two years, a prospective monk is ready to take his temporary vows, marking a significant step towards fully committing to monastic life. This isn’t a lifelong commitment just yet, but it’s a serious declaration of intent, a public statement of the monk’s desire to continue on this path.
The ceremony for temporary profession is usually smaller and more intimate than the solemn final vows. It often takes place within the monastery chapel, with the monastic community, family, and close friends present. The soon-to-be-temporarily professed monk will publicly declare his vows, typically including vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These vows are made for a specific period, generally one to three years, giving the monk more time for discernment and deeper integration into the monastic way of life.
What Temporary Vows Symbolize
These initial vows represent a deepening commitment to the monastic life. The monk is choosing, albeit temporarily, to embrace the core values of the monastery. Poverty invites simplicity and detachment from material possessions. Chastity encourages a different kind of love, a focus on spiritual growth and community. Obedience fosters humility and the ability to live in community, surrendering one’s own will for the greater good of the community and in service to God.
Living Out the Vows
Taking temporary vows signifies a change in the monk’s status within the community. He is now more fully integrated into the daily life of the monastery, taking on more responsibilities and participating more fully in prayer and work. He will continue to receive guidance from his superiors and the formation director, deepening his understanding of Benedictine spirituality, and continuing to discern if this is indeed his life’s calling.
The period of temporary profession is a time of continued growth, self-discovery, and testing. It provides the opportunity to live out the vows in a concrete way, to experience the joys and challenges of monastic life, and to assess the suitability of this path before making a lifelong commitment. It’s a time to delve deeper into prayer, community life, and the charisms of the specific monastic order.
This transitional phase allows the monk to truly experience the rhythm of monastic life – the daily cycle of prayer, work, study, and lectio divina (spiritual reading). He learns more about balancing solitude with community life, finding peace in silence and strength in shared purpose. He also begins to understand the deeper meaning of stability, seeking to find God within the confines of the monastic community.
A Typical Timeline for Temporary Vows
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Postulancy | 6-12 months |
| Novitiate | 1-2 years |
| Temporary Profession | 1-3 years (renewable) |
| Solemn Profession | Lifelong |
This table offers a general timeline, but the exact durations of each stage can vary depending on the specific monastic order and the individual’s progress.
During this crucial period, the monk gains a deeper understanding of himself and his relationship with God within the context of community. He refines his skills and talents, placing them at the service of the community. It’s a time of continued learning, both spiritual and practical, that ultimately prepares him for the potential of making a lifelong commitment to the monastic life.