Sarah Mitchell
Becoming a Catholic monk in Australia involves several stages of initiation and commitment to the monastic way of life. Candidates must first make several visits and gain the recommendation of the vocation director to enter the community as a postulant – a trial period where the candidate lives within the community and learns about the monastery's way of life. After this period, which can last from three months to two years, the candidate can apply to become a novice. The novitiate period ends with a simple ceremony where the novice takes vows of stability of place, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience for a trial period of three years, marking the beginning of their self-dedication to God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Trial period | Postulancy is a trial period when a candidate lives within the community for an extended period of time. This can last from three months to two years. |
| Community | The candidate gets to know the monks, and the community gets to know the candidate. |
| Human and spiritual maturity | The candidate must possess human and spiritual maturity to enter the novitiate. |
| Christian faith and life | The candidate receives instruction about the Christian faith and life. |
| Vote of the community | At the end of the novitiate, the community votes on whether the candidate can take the next step. |
| First vows | The candidate takes vows of stability of place, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience for a trial period of three years. |
| Monastic education | The following four or more years are geared towards self-knowledge, community participation, and broadening of mind and heart through monastic education. |
| Monastic profession | The rite of monastic profession is a public liturgical act ordinarily celebrated by the abbot during the community Mass. |
| Temporary vows | The candidate binds himself to live the monastic life in this monastery by temporary vows that are valid for three years but can be renewed. |
| Final vows | The monk's final profession of vows is a ceremony that binds him to the community for life. |
| Monastic consecration | The new monk receives monastic consecration, described in tradition as a "second baptism". |
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What You'll Learn
Visit monasteries and speak to a vocation director
If you are considering becoming a Catholic monk in Australia, visiting monasteries and speaking to a vocation director is an important step in the process. This will allow you to gain a better understanding of monastic life and determine if it is the right path for you.
When visiting a monastery, you will have the opportunity to meet with the monks and learn about their daily routines, spiritual practices, and community life. You can ask questions about their experiences and gain insights into the challenges and rewards of monastic living. It is important to be open and honest during these visits, as the monks will also be evaluating your suitability for their community.
The vocation director is a monk or priest who is responsible for helping candidates discern their vocation and guiding them through the process of becoming a monk. They can provide you with information about the specific monastery, its history, and the expectations and responsibilities of its monks. The vocation director will also be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have about monastic life and can offer spiritual guidance and support throughout your discernment journey.
During your visits, you may be invited to participate in some of the monastery's activities, such as prayers and ceremonies, meals, or work periods. This will give you a firsthand experience of monastic life and allow you to build relationships with the monks. It is important to remember that each monastery has its own unique character and way of life, so visiting multiple monasteries can help you find the one that best aligns with your interests and values.
After several visits and with the recommendation of the vocation director, you can apply to enter the community as a postulant. Postulancy is a trial period where you will live within the community and further discern your vocation. This is a time for mutual discernment, as both you and the community will determine if you have the spiritual and human maturity required to become a monk. At the end of this period, you may apply to the abbot to continue your journey as a novice, taking your first temporary vows and becoming a junior monk.
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Live in the community as a postulant
To become a Catholic monk in Australia, you must first live in the community as a postulant. This is a trial period where you will live within the community for an extended period, typically between three months to two years. During this time, you will become familiar with the monastery's way of life and further discern your vocation. You will have the opportunity to get to know the monks, and the community will get to know you to determine if you possess the human and spiritual maturity required to enter the novitiate.
As a postulant, you will receive instruction about the Christian faith and monastic life. This is a crucial period for both personal and spiritual growth as you immerse yourself in the daily rhythms and routines of the monastery. You will participate in the community's rituals and traditions, gaining a deeper understanding of their significance. This period allows you to develop a stronger connection with your faith and a clearer sense of your calling.
The postulancy period is also a time for the community to assess your compatibility with the monastic lifestyle. They will observe your dedication, discipline, and ability to adapt to the unique demands of monastic life. This includes adjusting to the schedule of prayer, work, and contemplation that forms the foundation of a monk's daily routine. It is important to demonstrate your commitment and respect for the monastic rules and traditions during this time.
At the end of your postulancy, if both you and the community feel that you are ready to advance, you will apply to the abbot to become a novice. This transition marks the beginning of a deeper commitment to the monastic way of life and a more formal process of monastic education. The abbot must obtain the consent of the chapter, which consists of all the solemnly-professed monks, to admit you into the novitiate.
The postulancy stage is a transformative period that lays the foundation for your future as a monk. It is a time for self-discovery, spiritual growth, and the development of a deeper connection with the monastic community. By embracing this trial period with dedication and openness, you take the first steps towards a life of service, prayer, and devotion.
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Take temporary vows to become a junior monk
Taking Temporary Vows to Become a Junior Monk
After the period of postulancy, which can last from three months to two years, the next step towards becoming a junior monk is to take temporary vows. At this stage, the candidate applies to the abbot to become a novice—a junior monk. The abbot must obtain the consent of the chapter, which is composed of all the solemnly professed monks, to admit the candidate into the novitiate.
The rite of monastic profession is a public liturgical act that is celebrated by the abbot during the community Mass, in the presence of all the monks, relatives, and friends of the novice. At this initial profession, the novice binds himself to live the monastic life in this monastery by vows that are valid for three years but can be renewed.
The novice pronounces vows of stability of place, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience for a trial period of three years. This ceremony is simple and occurs during the Liturgy of the Hours. After taking these vows, the novice begins to wear the black scapular and leather belt, indicating his status as a professed monk of the community.
The years following the first profession are geared towards continuing the process of self-knowledge, fuller participation in the community, and broadening the mind and heart through a programme of monastic education. During this time, the junior monk begins to express his monastic vocation in a more personal way, taking on more responsibility and allowing his gifts to develop within the monastic way of life.
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Pronounce vows of stability, fidelity, and obedience
After spending the first year of their monastic life as novices, learning about monastic life and the vows they will later take, monks are invited to take their first step in self-dedication to God by pronouncing the vows of stability, fidelity, and obedience. This is done at a simple ceremony during the Liturgy of the Hours, in the presence of the Abbot, the community, and God and his Saints.
The vow of stability means that the monk pledges lifelong commitment to a particular community. This is a powerful statement and a profound decision, as it means limiting oneself to one place and one group of people for life. This vow signifies rootedness and at-homeness, and the monk's acceptance of this place and monastic family as enduring.
The vow of fidelity to the monastic way of life means that the monk promises to allow himself to be shaped and moulded by the community. This includes a commitment to celibate chastity, individual poverty, and communal simplicity of life.
The vow of obedience means "to listen intently," and this vow is undertaken in a spirit of faith and love in following Christ, who was obedient to the will of the Father. The monk's obedience first binds him to accept the tasks the Abbot assigns, but as St Benedict reminds us, "our obedience will be perfect when we freely choose to obey."
These vows are the monk's way to God. By embracing these vows, monks believe they become channels for grace, and over a lifetime of monastic observance, they are transformed into the image of Christ.
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Receive monastic consecration and take final vows
The final profession of vows is a ceremony that binds you to the monastic community for life. It is a solemn occasion celebrated by the abbot and the community, marking your formal reception into the monastery. This ceremony signifies your permanent consecration to the service of God in the monastic way of life.
The final vows are taken after a period of self-dedication to God, during which you will have pronounced the vows of stability of place, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience for a trial period of three years. This period allows for self-knowledge, deeper involvement in the community, and personal growth through a monastic education programme.
The rite of monastic profession is a public liturgical act, celebrated in the presence of all the monks, as well as relatives and friends. At this initial profession, you will be a junior monk, binding yourself to live the monastic life in this monastery with temporary vows valid for three years, which can be renewed.
The final vows ceremony marks the culmination of your initial formation as a monk. However, monastic formation is a lifelong journey, and each monk is expected to continue their spiritual growth and development throughout their life within the monastic community.
The taking of solemn vows is a significant event, often attended by the community, family, and friends. It is during this celebration that you receive monastic consecration, described traditionally as a "second baptism". You will be clothed with a white cowl, symbolising your full membership in the Cistercian Order.
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