Sarah Mitchell
Catholic monks do not completely cut off contact with the outside world. They maintain relationships with family and friends through correspondence, phone calls, and emails, and some spend time with loved ones during vacations. Monks also engage in teaching, hospital work, and parish assignments outside the monastery. While silence is an important part of monastic life, it is observed during specific times and places, such as during the night hours and in the church and hallways of the monastery. Monks also come together for communal praise to God, offering support to one another, and sharing their daily experiences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Communication with the outside world | Monks keep in contact with family and friends through correspondence, phone calls, and emails. |
| They also spend time with family and friends during vacations. | |
| Visitors are allowed in some monasteries. | |
| Monks may leave the monastery for work, education, or retreats. | |
| Monks may be stationed outside the monastery in parishes. | |
| Monks may give talks outside the monastery. | |
| Novices may visit the local area and take an annual overnight trip. | |
| Silence | Silence is an important part of monastic life, but it is not a vow. |
| There are designated times and places for silence, such as between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. and in the church and hallways. | |
| Monks may choose to take a vow of silence. | |
| Trappists value silence as a means to assure solitude and foster mindfulness of God. | |
| Silence is considered a virtue and a way to deepen one's relationship with God. | |
| Monastic silence is more highly developed in the Catholic faith than in Protestantism. | |
| Spoken conversations between monks are permitted but limited according to community norms. |
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What You'll Learn
Monks do not cut off contact with the outside world
While monks do live a life of seclusion inside monasteries, they do not cut off contact with the outside world. In fact, monks are not cut off from the world or banished from those they love. They keep in contact with family and friends through correspondence, phone calls, and emails. Many monks also spend at least part of their vacation each year with family and friends, and visitors are welcome to see them at the monastery.
Monks also leave the monastery for various kinds of business. Some spend extended time away at school, while others are stationed outside the monastery in parishes. Some monks give retreats and talks throughout the United States and sometimes farther away. Novices, as a group, visit the local area from time to time to get to know the neighborhood and have some fun.
Monks may also have jobs outside the monastery. While some monks live a secluded life, others engage in teaching and hospital work, or go on active missions. Monks occupy varied roles in their congregation and community. Most monastic communities are self-sustaining, so monks do all the work to maintain the monastery and often grow their own food. Some monks tend to the garden, prepare food, do cleaning, and other necessary tasks.
While silence is an important part of monastic life, it is only one piece. Monks do not take a vow of silence. There are designated times and places where speaking is more strictly prohibited, such as during the Great Silence at night, but there are also times when conversation is permitted. Monks come together for communal praise to God, offer support to their brothers, and share with one another the events of their day-to-day lives.
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Catholic monks do not take a vow of silence
While silence is an important part of monastic life, Catholic monks do not take a vow of silence. In fact, there is no religious order that takes such a vow, and even the most austere monastic orders have times in their schedule for talking. Monastic silence is more developed in the Roman Catholic faith than in Protestantism, but it is not limited to Catholicism.
Monks are not cut off from the world or the people they love. They keep in contact with family and friends through correspondence, phone calls, and emails, and they often spend time with them on vacation. Family and friends are also welcome to visit the monastery. Monks also come and go for various kinds of business, such as teaching, giving retreats, or attending school. They may also be stationed outside the monastery in parishes.
At Saint Meinrad Archabbey, for example, there are designated times and places for silence, such as between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and in the church and hallways of the monastery. While silence is important, it is just one piece of monastic life, which also includes prayer, work, and leisure. Monks use their voices to give communal praise to God, offer support to one another, and share the events of their daily lives.
The practice of silence is observed differently by various monastic communities. Trappists, for example, value silence as a way to assure solitude in community, foster mindfulness of God, and favour attentiveness of the heart and solitary prayer. Spoken conversations between monks are permitted but limited according to the norms established by the community and approved by the Order.
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Monks have designated times and places for silence
While monks do not take a vow of silence, they do cultivate silence as part of their daily lives. Monastic silence is more highly developed in the Roman Catholic faith than in Protestantism, but it is not limited to Catholicism. Trappists, for example, anchor their lives in a cycle of manual work and ceaseless prayer, with spoken conversations permitted but limited according to the norms established by the community and approved by the Order.
The practice of silence is observed during different parts of the day, and monks talk when they need to while maintaining a sense of silence or prayer. Silence is considered essential to deepening a relationship with God, and it is also seen as a virtue in some religions. Monks seek to cultivate more silence in their lives than the average person, and this emphasis on silence allows them to listen to God more acutely.
Monks do not remain within the monastery at all times. They come and go for various reasons, including work, retreats, talks, and spending time with family and friends. However, they do have designated times for silence when they are together in the monastery, such as during prayer and meals.
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Monks have different occupations and travel for work
Monks in the Catholic Church have a variety of occupations and responsibilities, and their daily lives are filled with prayer, work, and leisure. While some monks reside in monasteries, others travel for work or spend extended periods away for education.
Monks have different occupations, including teaching, carpentry, administration, healthcare, maintenance, spiritual direction, art, and parish ministry. They may also take on specific roles within the monastery, such as the almoner, who distributes money to the poor, or the cantor, who directs the choir and liturgical music. Some monks are choirmonks, ordained monks who attend to sacramental ministries and liturgy, while others are lay brothers, who lead ascetic lives but are not ordained or involved in priestly duties.
Travel is a part of monastic life, and monks may be stationed outside their monasteries in parishes or go on retreats and give talks. Some monks spend time away from the monastery for education, and novices may visit the local area to get acquainted with the neighborhood. While silence is an important aspect of monastic life, it is not absolute, and monks do interact with the public and communicate with their families and friends through correspondence, phone calls, and emails.
The daily life of a monk is a balance of prayer, work, and leisure. Prayer is a constant presence, with monks praying multiple times a day, both individually and communally. Work is also an important dimension, with monks engaging in various occupations and responsibilities. Leisure is necessary for a healthy life, and monks have time for hobbies, meditation, and recreation.
In summary, Catholic monks have diverse occupations and often travel for work, education, or other purposes. Their daily lives are structured around prayer, work, and leisure, and they maintain connections with the outside world through their occupations, interactions with the public, and communication with their loved ones.
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Monks have family and friends visit them at the monastery
While monks do live a life of solitude and prayer, they are not entirely cut off from the outside world. Monks are allowed to have family and friends visit them at the monastery. For instance, at Saint Meinrad Archabbey, monks keep in touch with their loved ones through correspondence, phone calls, and emails. They also spend time with family and friends during vacations. Family and friends are allowed to visit the monastery, and monks with family living close by are encouraged to visit them often.
Monks at Mount Michael Abbey are allowed two weeks of vacation time, which many monks use to visit family and friends. Families are always welcome to visit, depending on the availability of guest space.
While silence is an important part of monastic life, it is not the only aspect. Monks come together for communal praise to God, to offer support to one another, and to share the events of their daily lives. There are designated times and places for both silence and socialising. For example, at Saint Meinrad, silence is observed between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. in places like the church and the hallways of the monastery. However, there are also times when monks come together for prayer, meals, and recreation.
In addition to visiting family and friends, monks also have varied occupations and responsibilities outside the monastery. Some monks are stationed in parishes, teach, or attend school, while others give retreats and talks. Therefore, while monks may have periods of silence and solitude, they also maintain connections with the outside world, including their loved ones.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholic monks are not completely cut off from the world outside their monastery. Monks keep in touch with their family and friends through correspondence, phone calls, and emails. They also spend time with their family and friends outside the monastery during vacations. Monks also go outside the monastery for work, education, and recreation.
No, Catholic monks do not take a vow of silence. However, silence is an important part of monastic life. There are designated times and places for silence, such as between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and in the church and hallways of the monastery. During these times, speaking is prohibited.
Yes, Catholic monks do have limited contact with the outside world. They may engage in teaching, hospital work, or other active missions outside the monastery. Monks also have designated times when they come together for prayer, meals, and recreation.
