Sarah Mitchell
Joining a Catholic monastery is a lengthy process that requires careful discernment. Candidates must be male, single, Roman Catholic, and have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. They should also demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity, physical health, and sufficient intelligence to understand the monastic life. The process begins with visiting different monasteries to determine the type of monastic life one wishes to lead. Candidates then contact the monasteries and may be invited for a short stay to participate in the community's liturgical celebrations. If the candidate's desire to join persists, they can request an observership, living in the monastery for a month and taking on work duties. After returning home to reflect, they may ask to enter as a postulant, living within the community for an extended period, typically between three months and two years. At the end of this trial period, the candidate applies to the abbot to become a novice, marking the beginning of their monastic studies. After two years, the candidate becomes a junior monk and takes their first set of vows, followed by their final vows to consecrate themselves permanently to the service of God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First step | Research and decide on the type of monastery and monk lifestyle |
| Contact | Get in touch with the monastery via letter, email, or phone |
| Visit | Visit the monastery to learn more about the lifestyle and community |
| Discuss | Talk about your experiences with a priest or spiritual leader |
| Observership | Live inside the monastery for a month, with assigned duties and community exercises |
| Postulancy | Live within the community for an extended period (at least 6 months) to adjust to the lifestyle and allow the community to assess suitability |
| Novitiate | Two-year period where the postulant takes on a new name, studies various subjects, and begins to take vows |
| Vows | The final profession of vows, binding the monk to the community for life |
| Rite of monastic profession | A public liturgical act, celebrated by the abbot during the community Mass, marking the monk's temporary vows |
| Criteria | Single, Roman Catholic, male, age 18-45, physically and emotionally mature, intelligent, and healthy |
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What You'll Learn
Research different monasteries and the type of monk you want to be
Research different monasteries
Monasteries vary in size, location, and the way of life they offer. Some monasteries are in populated locations, while others are in isolated places, such as on top of mountains or cliffs. Monasteries also vary in the degree to which they engage with the outside world. Some monks are solitary hermits, while others live together in community.
In the Roman Catholic religion, there are several monastic orders, including Benedictine, Cistercian, Carmelite, and Franciscan. Each order has its own rules and way of life. For example, the Carmelites follow the rule of Albert Avogadro, which includes poverty, chastity, obedience, manual labour, and silence for much of the day. The Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappist) abstain from meat and take a vow of silence. The Benedictines are involved in education and missionary work.
Some notable Catholic monasteries include:
- St. Mary's Monastery, Petersham, MA, USA: A community of contemplative Benedictine monks.
- Benedictine Abbey of Christ in the Desert: A vigorous monastic life with much prayer and emphasis on seeking God.
- Bobbio Abbey, Italy: An isolated monastery founded in 614 by an Irish monk, St. Columbanus, known for its importance as a place of study and prayer.
- Sevanavank Monastery, Armenia: Founded in 874 on an island in Lake Sevan, now a peninsula, following a vision of a hermit monk.
- Montserrat Monastery, Spain: Founded in the 9th century after an image of the mother of God was discovered in a cave.
The type of monk you want to be
Monks are called to be single in several senses: celibate, single-minded or pure of heart in their dedication to God, and desiring a simple life focused on God. However, the specific way of life varies depending on the monastery.
Monks can be broadly divided into two types: eremitic (solitary hermits) and cenobitic (living together in community). Eremitic monks may be anchorites, who stay in one place, or hermits who roam about, gathering together for prayer. Cenobitic monks live and pray together in community.
Within a monastery, monks may take on different roles. For example, in the Benedictine order, monks take the vows of obedience, stability, and conversion of life, and assume the responsibility of a chapter member, meeting with the Abbot and voting on important matters.
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Contact the monastery and arrange a visit
Joining a Catholic monastery is a big decision and a long process. It involves a lot of discernment and introspection. If you are interested in joining a monastery, the first step is to get in touch with them. You can contact monasteries by letter, email, or phone. Once you are in contact with them, they will consider letting you come to visit.
When you contact the monastery, be sure to ask any questions you may have about their way of life. You can also ask about arranging a retreat. It is important to do your research and see which monastic order you want to join. Some monasteries are cloistered and contemplative, while others engage more with the outside world. You should also consider whether you are suited to monastic life. Candidates must be single, celibate, Roman Catholic, and have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. They should also have a well-informed faith, a daily prayer life, and regular sacramental participation.
Once you have made contact and done your research, you can arrange a visit to the monastery. It is recommended that you visit the monastery multiple times to get a sense of their liturgical celebrations and community life. During these visits, you will be helped by the vocation director and other monks to discern whether monastic life is for you. If you are still interested after these visits, you can request to make an observership.
As an observer, you will live inside the monastery for about a month. You will be assigned work duties, attend all community exercises, and get to know the community. This is a chance for you to further discern whether monastic life is for you and for the community to assess your suitability. At the end of this period, if you are still interested, you can ask to enter as a postulant.
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Experience life in the monastery as a guest
If you are interested in joining a Catholic monastery, the first step is to visit a few monasteries to see which one you connect with. It is important to find a monastery that fits you as life as a monk can be physically and psychologically demanding.
Once you have found a monastery that you are interested in joining, you should contact the monastery and express your desire to visit as a guest. For example, to join St. Mary's Monastery, you should contact Brother Bernard, the Vocation Director. You will then be invited to visit the monastery as a guest for a few days, preferably more than once, and participate in the community's liturgical celebrations.
During your stay, you will be immersed in monastic life. You will live according to the monastery's schedule and participate in the Divine Office and Liturgy with the monastic community. You will also have the opportunity to grow in private prayer and encounter God in silence and solitude.
If you are considering a monastic vocation, you should contact the Vocation Director. However, if you are not considering a monastic vocation and simply wish to experience monastic life as a guest, you can apply to the Monastic Guest Program. This program is open to men of all faiths, in good physical and psychological health, who are 21 years or older. To apply, you should provide your name, address, phone number, and a brief autobiography.
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Apply to become an observer or postulant
If you are interested in joining a Catholic monastery, the first step is to research different monasteries and learn about the type of monastic life that calls to you. Some monasteries are cloistered and contemplative, while others engage more with the outside world. Once you have identified a monastery that you would like to join, the next step is to contact them by letter, email, or phone. After making initial contact, you will be invited to visit the monastery to observe their way of life and participate in their liturgical celebrations. During this time, you can discuss your experiences with a trusted priest or spiritual director to help you discern your calling.
If you still feel a desire to enter the monastery after your initial visit, you can request to become an observer or postulant. As an observer, you will live inside the monastery for a period of time, typically around a month, and fully participate in the community's liturgical celebrations, exercises, and daily life. You will be assigned work duties and have the opportunity to get to know the monks and allow them to get to know you. This period allows both you and the community to discern whether you are suited for monastic life. At the end of your observership, you will return home for a period of time to reflect on your experience and assess your continued interest in joining the monastery.
If you decide to proceed, you can then apply to become a postulant. Postulancy is a trial period where you live within the community for an extended period, typically ranging from three months to two years. During this time, you will become fully immersed in the monastery's manner of life and continue to discern your vocation. You will receive instruction about the Christian faith and monastic life, and the community will evaluate your human and spiritual maturity to enter the novitiate. At the end of your postulancy, if you and the community discern that you are ready to advance, you will apply to the abbot or novice master to become a novice.
It is important to note that the process of becoming an observer or postulant may vary slightly depending on the specific monastery and their requirements. Each monastery has its own unique way of life and discernment process, so it is essential to research and contact the monastery you are interested in joining to obtain specific information about their application process.
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Take vows to become a monk
Taking vows is a crucial step in becoming a monk. The process of joining a monastery involves several stages, and taking vows is an important milestone. While the specifics may vary, there are some common elements in the process of taking vows to become a monk in a Catholic monastery.
Initially, a candidate interested in becoming a monk must go through a discernment process. This involves contacting the monastery, visiting, and participating in the community's activities to understand the monastic way of life. If the candidate feels a persistent desire to join, they can proceed to the next steps.
The candidate then typically spends time as a "postulant," living in the monastery and sharing in the daily routines and practices. This period allows the candidate to adjust to monastic life and determine their suitability. After this period, the candidate may become a "novice," marking a more formal separation from the outside world and a deeper immersion in monastic studies and practices.
At the end of the novitiate period, the candidate may take their first vows, becoming a "junior" monk. These initial vows are temporary and usually last for one to three years, with the possibility of extensions. During this time, the junior monk continues to study and integrate more fully into the monastic community.
After the temporary vow period, the junior monk may take their solemn or final vows, committing to the monastic life for life. These vows are a sacred commitment to God and the monastic community. The vows typically include obedience, stability or conversion of life (committing to a particular monastery), and chastity or celibacy. Some monastic traditions may include additional vows, such as poverty or a special apostolate within the order.
Taking vows is a significant step in the journey towards becoming a monk, and it involves a deep sense of dedication and commitment to the monastic life and the service of God.
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Frequently asked questions
A true vocation to a particular monastery must be made manifest within the monastery through a long discernment process. If you are interested in a vigorous monastic life with much prayer and emphasis on seeking God, if you can accept obedience and humility, then perhaps this is for you.
The general minimum criteria for admission are that you are a single, Roman Catholic man between the ages of 18 and 45, with a well-informed faith and daily prayer life. You must also show evidence of a virtuous Christian life and have a reasonable degree of emotional and spiritual maturity.
First, you must get in contact with the monasteries you are interested in either by letter, email, or phone. Once you are in contact with them, they will consider letting you come to visit them. After several visits, you can apply to enter the community as a postulant. Postulancy is a trial period where a candidate lives within the community for an extended period, usually between three months and two years. At the end of this period, the candidate applies to the abbot to become a novice. If accepted, the candidate takes on a new name, begins novitiate studies, and takes their first set of vows. After some more time, the candidate takes their final solemn vows.
