Grace Thompson
While the life of a Catholic monk is one of devotion to God, prayer, and reflection, it is not one that is free of financial concerns. Monks have always been expected to support themselves, and the monasteries they call home have bills to pay. This has led to many monks taking on various money-making ventures, from tourism initiatives to selling coffee and handcrafted soaps. Some monks even work outside the monastery, though typically in not-for-profit roles, with any earnings going towards supporting the community and ministries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Monks' daily practice | Solitude |
| Monasticism | Commitment to Christ, Church, and community |
| Monastic community members | Expected to work to support the community and community ministries |
| Monastic life | A combination of prayer and labor |
| Monk's work | Must reflect his interests and the direction of the Abbot and spiritual director |
| Monastic orders | Take on external works such as service to the poor, giving religious retreats, or other active ministries within their immediate communities |
| Catholic monks | Take the monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience |
| Monks' money-making ventures | Mystic Monk Coffee, Altar Bread, Monastery Scents |
| Monks' healthcare costs | $500,000 |
| Monastery's financial losses | $400,000 a year |
| Monastery's construction project | $6.5 million |
| Monk's tax status | Depends on the organization he works for |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholic monks make money through external work and ventures, such as Mystic Monk Coffee and Monastery Scents
- They also rely on donations and tourism
- Some monks work for non-profit organisations, while others work for for-profit organisations and pay taxes
- Monks have historically supported themselves and their communities through farming and animal husbandry
- Monastic life is a balance of prayer, work, and community
Catholic monks make money through external work and ventures, such as Mystic Monk Coffee and Monastery Scents
While the lives of Catholic monks are dedicated to prayer, reflection, and worship, they are not entirely isolated from the financial concerns of modern life. Monasticism is a commitment to Christ, Church, and community, and monks are expected to work and support themselves and their ministries.
Monks typically work for non-profit organizations and are often exempt from paying taxes. However, they may also take on external work or ventures to generate income and support their monasteries. For example, the monks at Saint John's Abbey have various professions on and off-campus, with their work assigned during the novitiate and more freedom granted after formation.
One successful example of a monk-run business is Mystic Monk Coffee, founded in 2007 by the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming. They offer specially roasted coffee beans, monk-roasted blends, and flavoured coffees, along with merchandise like logo-emblazoned mugs and hoodies. The monks' passion for coffee has helped fund the construction of a new monastery in the American West.
Another venture is Monastery Scents, which offers handcrafted soaps made by Sister Cathleen Marie Timberlake, also known as the "Soap Sister." Sister Cathleen has been adding holy water and prayers to her soaps for about ten years, infusing them with spiritual significance.
Through these external ventures and their dedication to prayer, Catholic monks strive to balance their spiritual lives with the financial realities of sustaining their monasteries and communities.
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They also rely on donations and tourism
While monks are known for their dedication to prayer and reflection, they also have financial responsibilities. Monasticism is not a vacation from life's duties and responsibilities. Even though monks lead a simple existence, they are not exempt from monetary concerns and the pressures of modern life.
Monks have always been expected to support themselves and their communities. They hold all things in common, meaning that the land and buildings of a monastery are collectively "owned" by all its monks. This collective ownership means that the financial burden is shared, and individual monks do not possess personal wealth.
To sustain their monasteries, monks rely on various sources of income, including donations and tourism. Donations are a crucial aspect of funding for monasteries. The public can donate to the monastery, and monks may also receive donations in the form of goods and services. For example, a dentist and doctor have provided their services free of charge to monks in Georgia, where the lack of health insurance results in substantial healthcare costs.
Tourism is another way for monks to generate income. For instance, monks in Georgia constructed a visitors' centre to attract tourists and alleviate their financial burden. By increasing the number of visitors, they aim to reduce their monetary worries and focus more on their contemplative lives.
In addition to donations and tourism, monks may also engage in various money-making ventures. For instance, monks in Wyoming sell Mystic Monk Coffee, along with merchandise like logo-emblazoned mugs and hoodies. Similarly, the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri, have been making Altar Bread, or communion wafers, for a hundred years and recently started selling Monastery Scents, soaps made with holy water and prayers.
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Some monks work for non-profit organisations, while others work for for-profit organisations and pay taxes
Monasticism is a commitment to Christ, Church, and community, and monks have always been expected to support themselves and their communities in some way. A monk's work is a combination of prayer and labour, and it is reviewed and approved by the abbot and spiritual director.
Monks typically work for non-profit organisations, such as Saint John's Prep and Saint John's University, and do not pay taxes. However, if a monk works for a for-profit organisation, such as a local hospital, they will have to pay taxes.
Some monks work on campus at places like Saint John's Abbey, where many professions are possible. Others work off-campus if they are well-suited for a particular position, mission, or ministry. For example, monks at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Georgia have tried their hand at farming, raising rabbits, chickens, beef cattle, and even ostriches and emus. Other money-making ventures include Mystic Monk Coffee, which offers specially roasted beans and merchandise, and Monastery Scents, which adds holy water and prayers to its handcrafted soaps.
Monks also rely on donations and tourism to support themselves and their monasteries. For example, monks in Georgia decided to invest in a $6.5 million project to build a gathering space and visitors' centre to attract more tourists and reduce their financial burden.
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Monks have historically supported themselves and their communities through farming and animal husbandry
Monks of the Cistercian order, for example, were expected to "live from the work of their hands." They created farms, administered by lay brothers, and engaged in farming, animal husbandry, and wine production. The Cistercians were good farmers, and soon their monasteries were producing more than they needed. They established branches in important cities and traded their surplus goods, such as grain, wool, salt, and wine. In return, they acquired goods they could not produce themselves.
Monks today continue to support themselves and their communities through various enterprises, including farming and animal husbandry. For example, Trappist monks in Georgia, where they own 2,300 acres of land, have raised rabbits, chickens, and cattle over the years. They have also tried their hand at beekeeping and brewing beer, and they run a gift shop and rent out a retreat center. Monks of St. Gregory's Abbey strive to support themselves financially through sustainable production methods, and they market their agricultural, culinary, and craft products to the public.
While monks' work is essential for financial support, it also holds spiritual significance. For Benedictine monks, work informs their spiritual life and becomes a theater in which their spiritual life occupies, overflows, and takes root to grow. Thus, a monk's work at any point in his monastic vocation must reflect his interests and the direction of the Abbot and spiritual director.
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Monastic life is a balance of prayer, work, and community
Monastic life, as the name suggests, is a communal way of life. It is a commitment to Christ, the Church, and the community. Monastic community members are expected to work and contribute to the community and its ministries. Monasticism has a natural balance of prayer, work, and community.
The Benedictine monks, for example, believe in the spiritual value of work and community. They believe that work informs the spiritual life and becomes a medium for spiritual growth. The monks' work at any point in their monastic vocation must reflect their interests and the direction of the Abbot and spiritual director.
The monks of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, for instance, have chosen a life of simplicity. They dedicate their lives to prayer, reflection, and the worship of God. However, they are not immune to the pressures of the modern world, and they too have bills to pay.
To sustain their monasteries, monks have ventured into various money-making activities. Monks have always been expected to support themselves. They have taken on external work such as service to the poor, giving religious retreats, or other active ministries within their immediate communities. Some monks have also started their own businesses. For instance, a band of monks in Wyoming introduced Mystic Monk Coffee, a business offering specially roasted coffee beans, mugs, and hoodies.
Monks also rely on donations and tourism to sustain their monasteries. They may also receive support from their religious orders or communities. For example, monks typically do not pay taxes as they usually work for non-profit organizations. Additionally, they may have access to community resources such as vehicles and phones.
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Frequently asked questions
Monks are expected to support themselves and their community. They do this by working in a profession that suits their position and ministry. Some monks have ventured into businesses such as Mystic Monk Coffee, which sells coffee beans, mugs, and hoodies. Others have introduced unique products such as holy water and prayer-infused soaps.
Yes, some monasteries have turned to tourism to lighten their financial load. For example, monks in Georgia invested in a $6.5 million project to build a gathering space and visitors' center.
Monks lead a simple life and money is often used to pay the bills and support the poor. A significant portion of their expenses also goes towards healthcare costs, as they cannot afford health insurance.
Typically, monks do not pay taxes as they work for non-profit organizations. However, if they work for a for-profit organization, they may have to pay taxes.
