Exploring the Benedictine vows and how they shape the daily lives of monks
When people think of religious vows, often what comes to mind are the “evangelical counsels”: poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Benedictines, like those at St. Bede Abbey, on the other hand, take vows of stability (stabilitas loci), obedience (oboedientia), and conversion of life (conversatio morum). In fact, St. Benedict in his Rule expresses it this way:
“When he is to be received, he comes before the whole community in the oratory and promises stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience” (RB 58:17).
While obedience is a vow shared by many religious orders, stability and conversion of life are less easily understood and appear in unobvious ways.
When someone asks himself the question, “how do I become a monk?” it’s key to develop an understanding of how the vows will influence them. Taken together, they begin to paint a picture of monastic life at our monastery in Illinois.
Learn more about the monastic vocation here.
Stability
At its simplest level, stability is understood as a lifelong commitment to remain in the same monastery and community. In doing so, a monk cultivates a strong, rooted connection to that specific place and its people.
But stability has a much more holistic impact on the lives of Benedictines. Consider the physical aspect of stability. In vowing to stay at one monastery for their entire life, Benedictines stand in contrast with other orders that may allow monks to be assigned to multiple communities. This aspect of stability is a symbol of a monk’s dedication to their community as a spiritual family.
Ora et labora—a monk’s prayer and work—creates a rhythm for daily life. In this routine, monks are called to find God in the ordinary. In a way, it’s even counter-cultural, rejecting a modern world that values mobility, personal freedom, and even constant change.
From a spiritual perspective, stability encourages the cultivation of an inner stillness and peace. It’s a reminder that spiritual growth comes not from external change, but from interior transformation. And it’s an opportunity for monks to trust in growth through perseverance and patience.
Similarly, through stability, monks foster long-term relationships within the monastic community. They learn to love, forgive, and grow with those around them, even when conflict arises. Monks, like those at Saint Bede Abbey, also develop a larger presence in their local community, fostering deep relationships with those they serve.
Learn more about who the Benedictines are here.
Obedience
Many people understandably assume that obedience is a mere adherence to rules or an act of submission. But in Benedictine life, obedience is a spiritual practice that shapes the entire monastic community, helping monks grow closer to God. Perhaps paradoxically, obedience is then seen as a path to true freedom. In Benedictine spirituality, obedience frees the individual from ego and self-will. And when no longer bound by their own desires, they are liberated to follow God’s will more fully.
First and foremost, obedience is expressed by following the authority of the abbot, an abbey’s spiritual leader. St. Benedict emphasizes that these leaders are not infallible. In fact, they should serve more as a guide, encouraging monks to respectfully voice their own insights. It’s a relationship marked by care, responsibility, and mutual trust. And here at our monastery in Illinois, that is no exception.
Monks are also called to be obedient to their teachings, specifically from Scripture and The Rule of St. Benedict. Scripture is the ultimate authority in Benedictine life, and obedience to it is seen as essential for spiritual growth. The Rule provides a framework for how to live a balanced, spiritual life. Obedience to The Rule fosters discipline, consistency, and a shared vision for the community.
Learn more about The Rule of St. Benedict here.
Finally, St. Benedict encourages monks to develop a listening heart. This means perceiving the will of God in people and situations around them—including accepting the circumstances of life as part of God’s providential plan. Christ himself is presented as the model of obedience to God the Father. His Passion and death serve as the ultimate model.
Conversion of Life
This is perhaps the most complex, misunderstood, and transformative of the Benedictine vows. Those seeking to learn how to become a monk rarely have a full understanding of its significance.
Unique to the order, conversion of life refers to an ongoing process of spiritual growth, personal transformation, and striving for holiness in everyday life. It encompasses several aspects of monastic discipline, such as celibacy, simplicity, renunciation of personal possessions. It also includes fidelity to the communal and spiritual practices of the monastic life.
While the previous two vows have obvious external expressions, conversion of life is a more interior and dynamic process. Its adherence requires constant renewal and deepening of one’s relationship with God.
As an ongoing spiritual transformation, conversion of life requires continual effort to turn away from sin and selfishness. Monks must recognize that the call to holiness requires daily effort and grace. There are obvious ways that appears, like renouncing worldly attachments and living a life of discipline and virtue. A monk is called to let go of personal ambitions, desire for recognition, and pride.
But other expressions may be less obvious. Daily conversion refers to the notion that each day offers new opportunities to grow in virtue and renew one’s commitment to the Gospel. It involves small, almost imperceptible steps that gradually shape a monk’s life in the image of Christ.
Like the previous two vows, conversion of life is informed by the larger monastic structure. It is not a solitary endeavor, but rather takes place within the context of a supportive monastic community. And the routines of monastic life also influence conversion. Benedictine spirituality teaches that every aspect of life, no matter how small or routine, is an opportunity for spiritual growth.
If you want to continue learning more about how to become a monk, we invite you to continue discerning a future at St. Bede and to get in touch with us by submitting the form at this link.
