Monastic Vocation: How do I become a monk?
At St. Bede Abbey, we hear from a lot of young men—and other curious people—about how to become a Benedictine monk.
Unsurprisingly, the discernment process for the monastic vocation is a long road. It requires years of prayer, study, and thoughtful discussion with those familiar with the monastic life. And it requires an understanding of the work that monks do, how they live, and how they support the larger Catholic Church.
Fr. Gregory, one of the monks here at St. Bede Abbey, blesses a group of students from the St. Bede Academy.
Catholic Monks throughout history and today
Since at least the 4th century, monastic life has been a part of the Catholic Church. Monasteries began popping up in areas like Egypt and the Holy Land. And over time, that same desire to live a life of prayer and holiness spread to Europe.
Early monastic life was marked by manual labor, prayer, and the training of one’s body to control negative inclinations. It wasn’t until around the sixth century that monasteries began opening schools for the education of the laity.
Monks continue to support learning, hospitality, and spiritual guidance. Their life is a dedication to prayer, work, and community that embraces contemplation and service.
Types of Religious Orders & the Monastic Life
You might already be familiar with some other orders of the Catholic church: the Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, Carmelites, or others.
Something that makes Benedictines different from these other orders is that we are a “monastic” order, not a “mendicant” order, and we are called “monks” versus “friars.” One key distinction is that Benedictines live and serve in the same monastery for life, leading a quiet, contemplative life of prayer. Mendicant friars can move around from location to location, depending on their ministerial needs.
Our Benedictine order emphasizes balance in our acts, moderation in our lifestyle, and hospitality as an act of holiness. Similarly, we’re committed to ora et labora, work and prayer.
How to become a monk: The Discernment Process
Initial Stirrings
A man could be sparked by a religious experience, on a retreat for example. He could recognize his own dissatisfaction with secular life. Or, he may begin to seek a deeper intimacy with God that leads him to a more transformative lifestyle change.
Whatever than initial inclination, it will lead him to seek greater answers on the path to monastic life.
Exploration
Once he’s curious, he engages in a period of research on how to become a monk. He also seeks understanding about what the path may bring. Broadly, he may look into many different monastic orders and traditions. In this sampling, he’ll get a better understanding of their different charisms, spirituality, and ways of life.
This might be through reading books or going on retreats. Eventually, he’ll want to visit a monastery to meet with the monks, or even engage in a monastic hospitality program.
Spiritual Direction
The decision to become a monk is not a path someone should take on their own. As he becomes more set on this direction, it’s wise to seek out some guidance. A spiritual director can be a priest, religious sister, religious brother, or other experienced guide who can offer support or discernment tools throughout the process.
Prayer and Reflection
As with any type of vocation, there will be a period prayer and reflection. This could be liturgical prayer, spending time in Eucharistic adoration, or practicing contemplative prayer. He may ask God for guidance and listen for God’s voice with an open mind.
Period of Discernment
Along with prayer, he should take time reflect and participate in self-examination to decide whether this desire to become a monk is truly a call from God. At this time, he may consider his own personal motivations, as well as his strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, it’s important to reflect on his own desires in the context of a life of prayer, community, and service.
Dialogue with the Community
As he become more certain about his path, and more interested in a specific monastic community, he will begin engaging in conversation with its members. This is a chance to learn more about life in that monastery—as well as the values and expectations that will be expected of him.
Likewise, the community will use this time to discern whether he is a good fit to join them.
Formation and taking vows
If both the individual and the community agree on continuing on the path to monastic life, he may enter as a postulant. It’s during this time that the postulant lives and works alongside monks while continuing to discern their vocation.
Once again, if the community and individual agree to proceed, he will formally enter the novitiate and begin a more intense period of study, discernment and formation. At the end of the novitiate, he will take temporary vows that he typically will renew annually before choosing to make his final, perpetual vows.
It is at this time that he becomes a junior monk, immersing himself in deeper theological study and becoming a part of the wider community. After three to five years, he will make his final profession of monastic vows.
Monastic vows
When a person becomes a monk, it is common to take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The Benedictines, however, have their own specific set of monastic vows which include those three.
The first of these vows is stability. In this context, stability means a commitment to a specific community. Remember, the Benedictines stay with one monastery for their entire lives. This vow is a reflection of that commitment to a single place, as well as the people they interact with.
The second vow is obedience. The monk is called to listen to others more than himself. Perhaps most importantly, that means listening to the word of God, in whatever form it may take.
The final monastic vow is a concept unique to the Benedictines called conversatio morum. It’s understood as the willingness and continual effort to change personal behavior in line with the monastic way of life. It is important to note that for Benedictines the vows of poverty and chastity are folded into the vow of conversatio morum. The person is a full member of the monastic community after making his final profession.
Monastic life
Like any other monastic order, the day-to-day life of a Benedictine monk is anchored in prayer and the celebration of mass, which they attend daily.
Throughout the day, Benedictine monks recite a series of prayers known as the Liturgy of the Hours also called The Divine Office. These prayers follow the rhythm of the day, centered around the Psalms, Scriptures, and intercessions. Monks will participate in both communal and personal prayer, which may also include meditation, and spiritual readings. This allows for individual reflection and a deepening of one’s personal relationship with God.
Learn more about Monastic Prayer here.
Monks typically take their meals together in complete silence, or with minimal conversation. This communal practice helps foster fraternity and unity. Oftentimes, a meal is accompanied by readings from spiritual texts or other edifying writings.
The monastic commitment to ora et labora is also central to their daily lives. Monks will engage in manual labor, as well as intellectual work and any other tasks necessary for the monastery’s upkeep. Work is defined broadly, and can include everything from farming and cooking to artistic pursuits and teaching.
Learn more about our work at St. Bede Abbey here.
Another key component of Benedictine spirituality is the practice of lectio divina, sacred reading. This involves praying with and meditating on Scripture and other spiritual texts. Similarly, Benedictine monks dedicate time to study, both on their own and as a part of their community.
Contact Us
The path to becoming a monk is always taken purposefully, and with great care. At St. Bede, we want to support you wherever this path might lead. If you’re more curious about becoming a Benedictine monk, please do reach out to us and fill out our contact form, linked here.
