Sarah Mitchell
A Catholic monk is a person who withdraws from society to devote themselves to religious service. While the specific process varies depending on the monastic order, becoming a Catholic monk in India generally involves joining a religious community, undergoing a period of postulancy or training, and taking vows of celibacy and monkhood. Interested unmarried young men can join the Ramakrishna Order, also known as the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, by renouncing the world and dedicating their lives to spiritual pursuits and service.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant), Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana), Hinduism (Brahman, Shaivite, and Vaishnavite), Jainism, and Taoism |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 18-30 (or 36 in the case of Westerners) |
| Education | At least a graduate |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Ordainment | 9 years |
| Salary | No salary is paid to monks |
| Clothing | Kurta-like shirt (loose & collarless), dhoti (cloth tied around the waist extending to the feet), and uttariya (cloth wrapped around the upper body) |
| Vows | Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Sannyasa (monkhood) |
| Spiritual outlook | Spirituality is the basis, guiding force, and aim of monastic life |
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What You'll Learn
Joining a monastic order
Step 1: Discern Your Calling
Firstly, take time to discern your calling to monastic life. Engage in prayer, reflection, and spiritual practices to understand if this path aligns with your deepest desires and beliefs. Seek guidance from spiritual leaders, family, and friends.
Step 2: Research and Visit Monasteries
Research different monastic orders and their specific charisms, rules, and spiritual traditions. Visit monasteries that interest you, attend their liturgies, and speak with the monks to gain a deeper understanding of their way of life.
Step 3: Meet the Basic Requirements
Monastic orders typically have age and educational requirements. For example, the Ramakrishna Order accepts unmarried men aged 18 to 30 (or 36 for Westerners) who are at least graduates. Ensure you meet the basic eligibility criteria before proceeding.
Step 4: Aspiring Monastic Life
If you feel a strong connection to a particular monastic order, express your interest to the relevant authorities. For instance, the Advaita Ashrama encourages interested individuals to contact them directly or reach out to Swamis of the Ramakrishna Order. Be open about your background and any concerns you may have.
Step 5: Postulancy and Novitiate
After establishing contact and receiving a positive response, you will likely undergo a period of postulancy, where you live within the monastic community for a trial period. This can last from a few months to a couple of years. During this time, you will learn about monastic life, develop relationships with the monks, and discern your vocation further. At the end of this period, you may apply to become a novice, marking your formal entry into the monastic community.
Step 6: Monastic Profession
As a novice, you will take temporary vows that bind you to the monastic life for a set period, typically three years. This stage allows you to deepen your commitment and continue your formation as a monk. At the end of this period, you will have the option to make your final profession of vows, a lifelong commitment to the monastic community and the service of God.
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Requirements for entry
- Devotion to the Catholic faith and a willingness to give up worldly experiences.
- A strong spiritual outlook and a desire to devote one's life exclusively to spiritual pursuits and selfless service.
- A commitment to a life of celibacy and monkhood, which will be the cornerstone of monastic life.
- In most cases, interested individuals must be unmarried men within the age group of 18 to 30 (or 36 in the case of Westerners). The upper age limit may be flexible depending on educational qualifications.
- A minimum educational qualification of a graduate degree is often required.
- A recommendation from a vocation director or spiritual teacher who can guide and give permission for ordination is essential.
- A trial period of postulancy, lasting from three months to two years, during which the candidate lives within the community, discerns their vocation, and receives instruction about the Catholic faith and monastic life.
- Basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing are provided, but monks do not receive a salary or personal income. Simplicity and obedience are expected, with personal ambitions set aside.
- A final profession of vows is made in a ceremony, binding the monk to the community for life and marking their formal reception into the monastery.
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The application process
Eligibility:
To be eligible to join the Ramakrishna Order in India, interested individuals must be unmarried men aged 18 to 30 (or 36 for Westerners). The upper age limit may be flexible depending on the educational qualifications of the candidate.
Spiritual Requirements:
The Ramakrishna Order emphasizes spirituality as the basis, guiding force, and ultimate aim of their organization. Aspirants must be willing to renounce worldly experiences and dedicate their lives to spiritual pursuits and selfless service. This includes taking up vows of Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Sannyasa (monkhood).
Research and Visits:
Before applying, it is essential to research and visit various monasteries to find the best fit for your monastic journey. This allows you to learn about the monastic life and determine if it aligns with your calling.
Finding a Teacher:
To become a monk, you will need to find a teacher or spiritual guide who can give you permission to be ordained. Seek out Buddhist temples or reach out to Buddhist teachers to find a mentor who can guide you on your path to monkhood.
Postulancy:
After establishing contact with the monastery of your choice, you will undergo a trial period known as postulancy. During this time, you will live within the monastic community, learning about their way of life and discerning your vocation. The length of postulancy can vary from three months to two years.
Application for Novitiate:
At the end of postulancy, you will apply to the abbot to become a novice. The abbot will seek the consent of the chapter, which is composed of all the solemnly-professed monks. If accepted, you will become a junior monk, taking temporary vows that bind you to the monastic life for an initial period of three years.
Monastic Profession:
After the initial period as a junior monk, you will make your final profession of vows, which is a solemn ceremony where you are formally received into the monastery and consecrated to the service of God. These vows bind you to the monastic community for life, marking the end of your initial formation process.
It is important to note that the path to becoming a Catholic monk in India is a lengthy and contemplative journey. The process involves self-discovery, spiritual growth, and a strong commitment to the monastic way of life.
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Monastic life and duties
Monastic Life
The Ramakrishna Order, founded by Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples led by Swami Vivekananda, is a well-defined monastic body. The monks live in monasteries, usually known as a Math or Ashrama, and devote their lives exclusively to spiritual pursuits and selfless service. Simplicity is valued in food, clothing, and housing, but the conditions are not austere. While monks do not receive a salary, their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing, are provided for by the institution.
Monastic Duties
Interested unmarried young men between the ages of 18 and 30 (or 36 for Westerners) who are at least graduates are eligible to join. Upon joining, aspirants are given a nine-year period to examine their fitness for the monastic way of life. During this time, they take up vows of Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Sannyasa (monkhood). At the end of the nine years, they may be ordained as monks (Sannyasins) and receive full membership.
The spiritual outlook is essential within the Order, and service activities are considered another form of spiritual discipline. The monks are expected to renounce the world and dedicate their lives to spiritual growth and service to society, as advocated by Swami Vivekananda.
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Vows and ordination
To become a Catholic monk in India, one must devote themselves entirely to their belief system and be willing to give up worldly experiences. This involves taking vows of celibacy and monkhood, which form the cornerstone of monastic life.
In the case of the Ramakrishna Order, interested unmarried men between the ages of 18 and 30 (or 36 for Westerners) who are at least graduates are eligible to join. The actual age limit is dependent on the educational qualifications of the candidate. The Order has centres across India, where aspirants are given nine years to examine their fitness for the monastic way of life. During this time, they are known as Brahmacharins and wear white garments. After the completion of this period, they may be ordained as monks (Sannyasins) and receive ochre-coloured robes.
The process of becoming a monk typically involves a period of postulancy, where the candidate lives within the community and learns about the monastery's way of life. This can last from three months to two years, after which the candidate applies to become a novice. The abbot, with the consent of the chapter, admits the candidate into the novitiate, marking the beginning of their monastic profession.
The monastic profession is a public liturgical act, celebrated by the abbot in the presence of the community. The candidate takes temporary vows, valid for three years, to live the monastic life, thus becoming a junior monk. After this initial period, the monk makes their final profession of vows, a ceremony that binds them to the community for life.
While monks do not receive a salary, their basic needs, such as food, shelter, and clothing, are provided for by the monastery. This vow of poverty does not equate to penury, and the monastic code of conduct ensures that fundamental needs are met without expectation of material gain.
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Frequently asked questions
Requirements vary depending on the specific order, but generally, one must be male, unmarried, and willing to renounce worldly experiences and devote their life to spiritual pursuits and service. Some orders require monks to take vows of celibacy and monkhood, while others expect several years of service in a temple before ordination.
The process of becoming a monk typically involves finding a teacher or spiritual director who can guide you through the process and give permission for ordination. This may involve visiting monasteries, corresponding with teachers via letter or email, and demonstrating knowledge of the religion's teachings. Once a candidate is deemed suitable, they may enter a trial period of living within the community, after which they may be accepted as a novice and begin the process of monastic formation, which can take several years.
Monks typically lead a simple life with basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing provided by the monastery. Monks do not receive a salary or personal income, but their legitimate needs are met by the institution. The monastic vow of poverty does not entail extreme deprivation, and monks are still able to pursue personal achievements and development.
