Rachel Evans
There are several types of Catholic monks, each with its own unique characteristics, traditions, and way of life. The different types of monks include the Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, Carthusians, and more. Each order has its own history, rules, and spiritual practices, and they vary in terms of their level of solitude, community engagement, and daily routines. Some monks live in communities, while others lead solitary lives of contemplation and prayer. The various Catholic monastic orders have played a significant role in shaping Christianity and Western culture, particularly during the Middle Ages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of types of monks | 2 |
| First type | Eremitic, solitary hermits |
| Second type | Cenobitic, living together in a community |
| Example of Eremitic monks | Carthusians, Carmelites |
| Example of Cenobitic monks | Benedictines, Dominicans |
| Characteristics of Eremitic Carthusian monks | Spend time reading, praying and laboring with their hands; eat only one meal a day; wear rough hair shirts; spend most of their time alone in cells; famous for their vow of silence |
| Characteristics of Cenobitic Benedictine monks | Value hard work; motto is "pray and work"; sometimes called the Black monks because of the color of their robes |
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What You'll Learn
Monastic orders of monks and nuns
Monastic orders are groups of men or women who dedicate themselves to God and live in an isolated community or alone. Monks are divided into two types: eremitic, who are solitary hermits, and cenobitic, who live together in a community.
The Benedictines, founded by St. Benedict of Nursia, are considered the father of Christian monasticism in Europe. They are sometimes called the Black Monks because of the colour of their robes. They value hard work and their motto is "ora et labora" ("pray and work"). The Benedictines also gave us the liqueur that bears their name.
The Carthusians are regarded as the most contemplative and withdrawn of Catholic monks. They spend their time reading, praying, and labouring with their hands. They eat only one meal a day, often the coarsest foods, and many wear rough hair shirts. They are famous for their vow of silence, which they break only for their three-times-a-day chant-like prayers.
The Carmelites were founded in 1247 and include friars, nuns, and laypeople. They are named after Mount Carmel west of Nazareth in present-day Israel. The group claims they were founded by the prophet Elijah in 875 B.C, but investigation showed it was founded around 1200 by hermits who meditated in caves in Mount Carmel. Many nuns are Carmelites.
The Cistercians were founded by Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) and have two branches: Cistercians of the Common Observance and Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappist). The Trappists abstain from meat and take a vow of silence.
The Dominicans, founded by St. Dominic, are a popular active order. Our Lady appeared to St. Dominic and entrusted him with the propagation of the Holy Rosary.
The Augustinians were founded in 356 and include both monks and nuns who follow the Rule of Basil the Great. They wear black robes, symbolizing death to the world. Nuns work in schools, hospitals, and charitable organizations.
The Franciscans, founded by Francis of Assisi about 1209, include three orders: Friars Minor; Poor Clares, or nuns; and a third order of laypeople. Friars are further divided into Friars Minor Conventual and Friars Minor Capuchin. The Conventual branch owns some property (monasteries, churches, schools), while the Capuchins closely follow the rule of Francis.
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The four kinds of monks
Monks are broadly divided into two types: eremitic and cenobitic. Eremitic monks are solitary hermits, while cenobitic monks live together in a community. However, within these two types, there are four further distinctions.
The first is the coenobites (or cenobites), who live together in a congregation and are governed by the direction of a single Elder. This is the largest group of monks in Egypt. Coenobites are sometimes further divided into two types: the Cistercians of the Common Observance and the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappist). The latter follow the rule of Benedict, abstaining from meat and taking a vow of silence.
The second type is the anchorites, who were trained in the coenobium and then chose to live in the desert. Anchorites are sometimes considered a subset of the eremitic monks, who live in solitude.
The third type is the sarabaites, which is considered a "reprehensible" order.
The fourth type is the gyrovagues, who take advantage of others' hospitality and abuse charity. They are considered false anchorites, having left the coenobium to live as hermits, but their hearts are not truly those of solitaries.
Other Types of Catholic Monks
While the four types of monks outlined above are the most commonly recognized, there are also other types of Catholic monks, such as the Benedictines, Dominicans, Carthusians, Carmelites, and Franciscans. These orders may have unique characteristics, such as the Carthusians' vow of silence and solitary lifestyle, or the Dominicans' black robes, but they do not constitute distinct types of monks in the same way as the four orders described earlier.
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Catholic religious orders
In the Catholic Church, a religious order is a community of consecrated life with members that profess solemn vows. They are classed as a type of religious institute. There are several Catholic religious orders, including:
Canons Regular
Canons and canonesses regular who recite the Divine Office and serve a church and perhaps a parish.
Clerics Regular
Priests who take religious vows and have an active apostolic life.
Mendicants
Friars and religious sisters, possibly living and working in a friary or a convent, who live from alms, recite the Divine Office, and, in the case of men, participate in apostolic activities.
Monastics
Monks and nuns living and working in a monastery or a nunnery and reciting the Divine Office. Monastics can be further divided into two types: eremitic and cenobitic. Eremitic monks are solitary hermits, while cenobitic monks live together in a community.
Benedictines
The Benedictines were founded by St. Benedict of Nursia, who is considered the father of Christian monasticism in Europe. They value hard work, with their motto being "ora et labora" ("pray and work"). They are sometimes called Black Monks because of the colour of their robes.
Carthusians
Carthusians are regarded as the most contemplative and withdrawn of Catholic monks. They spend their time reading, praying, and labouring with their hands. They eat only one meal a day, usually the coarsest foods, and many wear rough hair shirts. They are famous for their vow of silence, which they break only for their three-times-a-day chant-like prayers.
Carmelites
The Carmelites were founded by hermits who meditated in the caves of Mount Carmel in Israel. They consist of 24 houses on three continents, dedicated to contemplation. Each house is self-supporting, but sales of an herb-based green liqueur called Chartreuse help finance the order.
Franciscans
Founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209, the Franciscans include three orders: Friars Minor; Poor Clares, or nuns; and a third order of laypeople. Friars Minor Capuchin closely follow the rule of Francis, while Friars Minor Conventual own some property, such as monasteries and churches.
Cistercians
The Cistercians were founded in 1098 and include two branches: the Cistercians of the Common Observance and the Cistercians of Strict Observance (Trappist). The Trappists abstain from meat and take a vow of silence.
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Benedictines
The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, written around 530. They are the oldest religious order in the Latin Church, founded in 529 by Benedict of Nursia, a 6th-century Italian monk.
The Rule of Saint Benedict is a how-to guide on being a monk and is considered the second most influential book in Christianity after the Bible. It is based on the idea of work as participation in God's act of creation, rather than asceticism and good deeds. Benedictines take vows of obedience, stability, and ongoing conversion. They are known for their hospitality and strong tradition of welcoming guests as Christ. Meals are also important, taking on a "sacramental" character as a continuation of the Eucharist.
The Benedictines are organized as a collection of autonomous monasteries and convents, some known as abbeys, with each monastery having a unique character and identity. They do not operate under a single hierarchy but are represented internationally by the Benedictine Confederation. While they once dominated the monastic way of life in Western Europe, their influence began to decline towards the end of the 12th century with the rise of mendicant orders like the Franciscans and Dominicans.
Despite this decline, Benedictines have continued to spread throughout the world, with a presence in places like Oklahoma and Brazil. They have made significant contributions to the establishment and development of the Church, and their monasteries have become important centres of religious life, culture, scholarship, and education.
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Carmelites
The Carmelites, or the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, is a Catholic mendicant order for both men and women. The Carmelites are named after Mount Carmel in present-day Israel, where the order was founded in the 1200s by hermits who meditated in caves. The Carmelites are also known as the Carmelite Order or Carmel.
The Carmelites are dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and their symbol is the Scapular of the Order. According to tradition, in 1251, Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared to the prior general of the Carmelites, Simon Stock, accompanied by angels and holding the Scapular, which she said would be a "sign of salvation, a safeguard in perils and the pledge of peace and special protection until the end of the centuries".
The Carmelites of the Ancient Observance, or Calced Carmelites, are the original Carmelites. They are distinct from the Discalced Carmelites, who were founded in 1562 and have more members. The Discalced Carmelites were co-founded by Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite mystic and reformer.
The Carmelites of the Old Observance underwent reform in the early 17th century, with the goal of promoting the interior life and returning to the ancient traditions of the order. This reform was supported by figures of the Catholic Reformation, including Charles Borromeo, cardinal and archbishop of Milan. By the middle of the 17th century, most French provinces had adopted the reform, along with convents in Belgium and Germany.
The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming is a monastic, cloistered community of Carmelite men founded in the Rocky Mountains. These monks seek to perpetuate the charism of the Blessed Virgin Mary by living the hidden Marian life in vows to the primitive Carmelite Rule and monastic observance. They live in unwavering fidelity to the Magisterium of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Father through the bishop of Cheyenne.
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