Conversatio Morum: Understanding the third Benedictine monastic vow
By now, you may be familiar with the three Benedictine monastic vows: stability (stabilitas loci), obedience (oboedientia), and conversion of life (conversatio morum).
Abbot Michael teaches a class at St. Bede Academy
Stability is common in monastic communities, especially the Benedictines at St. Bede Abbey. And obedience is quickly understood through outward expression. But the third vow, conversion of life, is much more esoteric and complex. It refers to an ongoing process of spiritual growth and personal transformation.
This interior and dynamic vow covers several aspects of monastic life, from simplicity and discipline to fidelity to the communal spiritual practices of the community. You can see it being lived out at Saint Bede Abbey, our monastery in Illinois.
As you continue to explore how to become a monk and what that means, it is essential to understand how conversatio morum will play a part in your life.
Daily conversion: The call to holiness after becoming a monk
Benedictine monks, like those at our abbey in Illinois, recognize that the call to holiness requires daily effort and grace. Central to this is the idea of daily conversion: each day is a new chance to get closer to God through confronting personal weakness and growing in virtue. The actions a monk takes to achieve this are small, shaping his holiness over his entire life.
Conversatio morum is understood as a chance to find God in the ordinary. Benedictine spirituality teaches that every aspect of life, no matter how small or routine, is an opportunity for spiritual growth. Thus, even the most mundane tasks are seen as sacred acts of worship and love.
Discipline and virtue: monk’s prayer and beyond
Discipline is a theme that runs through all three vows and takes a particular form in conversatio morum. It’s the framework within which a monk is continually formed and transformed.
The Rule of Saint Benedict outlines ora et labora, prayer and work, as the guiding directive for daily monastic life. It plays a key part in the disciplined expression of conversatio morum. A monk’s prayer—in particular the Divine Office—as well as manual labor cultivates the habits of mind and heart to foster spiritual growth. Additionally, a monk is called to virtues of humility, patience, and charity. He recognizes that holiness comes through the difficult work of mastering one’s passions and cultivating a Christ-like heart.
Learn more about the Rule of Saint Benedict.
Turning away from sin
Rejecting sin is seen as a consistent, active practice. It requires regular self-examination as well as humility. Of course, repentance is central to this practice. The sacrament of confession offers a means to receive forgiveness and grace as a monk continues his journey of conversion.
Additionally, by engaging in lectio divina—a meditative reading of Scripture—and other forms of monk’s prayer, a monk is given the opportunity to reflect on his own life and recognize shortcomings.
This is not to say that the process is inherently punitive. A monk is called to acknowledge his own human imperfection, rather than expect immediate holiness. He is committing to the long, gradual process of being more like Christ, asking for God’s mercy when he falls short, and beginning again.
Renouncing worldly attachments
In every monastic order, monks are required to renounce their worldly attachments. They are called to a radical reorientation toward the values of the Gospel. Broadly, this includes a commitment to living a life of simplicity, detaching oneself from material goods, wealth, and personal comforts.
As a part of this conversion, a monk takes a vow of poverty, relinquishing ownership of personal property and embracing the shared communal life. The monk additionally takes vows of chastity and celibacy, allowing him to focus entirely on his relationship with God. In doing so, he channels human love and desire into a deeper, spiritual relationship with Christ.
A Benedictine monk is also called to let go of his personal ambitions, desires for recognition, and pride. Instead, he places God and the needs of others before his own. This is central to the process of spiritual growth as it opens the monk up to God’s transformative grace.
Community: Our monastery in Illinois and beyond
Community is a central aspect to Benedictine monastic life. Appropriately enough, conversatio morum is not a solitary endeavor. Instead, it takes place within the larger context of a supportive monastic community. This community provides encouragement, accountability, and examples of holiness for monks to follow. Benedictine monks help each other on their journeys by offering correction, prayer, love, and support. And the monastic community at St. Bede Abbey in Illinois is no exception.
Similarly, personal preferences are set aside for the good of the community. Monks are called to share their joys—as well as their burdens and sacrifices.
Constant openness to God’s grace
While conversion of life is noted for its constant effort and discipline, ultimately it is a practice driven by God’s grace. A monk cannot achieve holiness on his own; he is entirely dependent on God’s mercy and love. That means his role is to be receptive to God’s work and to trust that God will lead him to holiness.
As with everything, this requires patience—both with oneself and with God’s timing. Even when progress seems slow, or when a monk faces difficulty, he must trust that God is at work. After all, real, lasting transformation takes time and setbacks are inevitable. In the face of these challenges, a Benedictine monk is called to always to return to God and renew one’s efforts.
If you are ready to take the next step in your discernment—or just want to learn more about how to become a monk—we encourage you to get in touch with St. Bede Abbey by submitting the form at this link.
