I have decided... I want to be a monk.

I wish you the very best and the solitude this lifestyle may bring.
I have no answers, but i know a guy who knows a guy who may know.

Blessings.

God bless you on your journey.

To all: Didn't Rising Sun become a monk & is somewhere in OK. now?

Too bad he's not still around.

Archer...God give you peace. I will pray for you as you investigate the monastic life. It is a very holy calling, and I wish you the best. I don't know how you might begin to get information, but it seems that your priest would be the best place to start. He should be able to refer you to a spiritual director who can help you discern this call. Do remember, though, that this is not going to be a quick or easy process. You can't just check into a monastery as you would a hotel. God bless and keep you, and guide you on your journey!


Peace be with you!

Sandy

Michie, I think he did join a monastic order, but I have no idea where.

I believe it was in OK. He sent me pictures. It was a beautiful place but I can't recall the name.

I think straybullet was also inquiring into the monastic life, wasn't he?

Not that I can recall.

It will take a period of discernment to be sure.

archer9 said:

I am not sure I want to tell anyone else about this wish of mine just yet. But I will ask my priest about this.


Thank you.

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Dear Archer,
May the peace of Christ be with you in your discernment.

I must be brief for the moment, but I just wanted to give you a link to this website which you may find helpful;

Religious Vocation | Celibacy, A Higher Calling than Marriage?

Please be assured of my prayers on your journey to religious life.

Blessings,
-Davide

Rising_Suns said:

Dear Archer,
May the peace of Christ be with you in your discernment.

I must be brief for the moment, but I just wanted to give you a link to this website which you may find helpful;

Religious Vocation | Celibacy, A Higher Calling than Marriage?

Please be assured of my prayers on your journey to religious life.

Blessings,
-Davide

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Davide!! Hi! Many blessings to you, my friend...I pray you are doing well.

Peace be with you!

Sandy

Rising_Suns said:

Dear Archer,
May the peace of Christ be with you in your discernment.

I must be brief for the moment, but I just wanted to give you a link to this website which you may find helpful;

Religious Vocation | Celibacy, A Higher Calling than Marriage?

Please be assured of my prayers on your journey to religious life.

Blessings,
-Davide

Click to expand...

Davide!!!

*Brought a smile to my face*

Every religious order website I've ever seen has a Vocations section. Why don't you start by looking at the various monasteries online and writing to a few of their vocation directors? You might want to go on a discernment retreat at a few of them.

There are a number of monastic orders and even within those orders some are more contemplative than others.

In my limited experience, I've been told that all monks start out as brothers, going through their novitiates. During that time they can discern whether they feel they are called to the priesthood as well.

I think that whether you choose to become a monk or not, the time you spend praying and reflecting on your potential vocation will help you to grow in grace and knowledge, and that's a wonderful thing.

archer9 said:

1. How does the acceptance in a monk order happen?
2. Are there any requirements to become a monk?
3. Is there a chance that I will not be accepted if I don't know their language? I can speak freely in english...
4. What would you suggest me to do first?

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I'm an American, so this is how is it basically done here. It shouldn't be too different-

Acceptance is a process that is between you and the community. It varies a little depending on where you are wanting to enter.

Basically, you search around for what community/order you would like to join. You contact the person is charge of vocations. He'll let you know what is available. You will probably do a few visits where you get familiar with them. When you think you are ready, you apply for the community- how that happens, again, depends. They will likely want an autobiography and a few other things. You will probably do a physical/mental check with a professional. Next, you enter. This happens at certain periods of the year, maybe once in the Spring, or once in the Spring and Fall. You may be a postulant/novice for a while. This is a period of getting to know the community more thoroughly by living and praying with them. At some point, a few years or so, that period ends and you are a 'regular' monk. This is the time you pick up your skill. If you are to be a priest, you'd study inside or outside of the monastery. If you are a brother, you might be learning a trade or going to school for a degree. You can then make different vows to the community (solemn, perpetual, etc).

The requirements are generally that you are a celibate (about 2 years abstaining from sex), Catholic male between 18-45 without any children and debt.

Language, at least in the US, is not usually a problem. You'd have to work that out when and how you'd learn it with them.

The first thing to do is get in contact with a vocations director in your diocese. He'll have resources and advice for you. You can also search around for religious orders in your area and get in touch with them.

If you have any other questions, lemme know.

PeterTheRock was booted from the monostary after a week or so, IIRC.

Now he's one of those who claim that Pope John Paul II wasn't a real Pope and that Masses not in latin aren't licit and that Vatican II was a sham, etc, IIRC.

1. How does the acceptance in a monk order happen?

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You write to the monastery and indicated your desire. They will contact you and invite you for a visit, perhaps a week-end. If you like them and they like you'll they'll ask you to come and stay again, perhaps a week. This time, you'll engage in the work and prayer time, that the community follows. Don't join one that doesn't do the complete Divine Office with Mass, daily.

Also, be sure the monastery has Papal approval. Some new monasteries only have the local Bishops approval, and can be ordered to disband by a new Bishop at his discretion.

2. Are there any requirements to become a monk?

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Catholic male between the ages of 18 and 45 is the norm. Exceptions are made for males older than 45, but its rare.

3. Is there a chance that I will not be accepted if I don't know their language? I can speak freely in english...

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Knowing their language is a plus, but not a prerequisite. But it will depend on the monastery, and whether they have the time to help you with their language.

4. What would you suggest me to do first?

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First off, pray. Pray that you are following God's will, not your own agenda.

Then, Look at the spirituality of the order first. What Rule of Life do they follow? You say you're interested in a Benedictine Order. They'll follow the rule of St Benedict. However, Trappist, Cistercians of the Strict Observance, also follow the Rule of St. Benedict. I'm more drawn to them, and if I was a young single male, that's where I'd be heading. There main monastery is in France.

Remember, you don't join a monastery in order to get away from people. Rather, you join in order to learn to live with other them better.

God Bless
Jim