There is so much, that I don't know what to say.
First off, monasticism and celibacy is regarded as a gift from God. A calling. (1 Cor 7:7) "..and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." (Matt 19:10-12) Monasticism is the consecration of the celibate life. It is a life devoted exclusively to repentance, prayer, and service to God.
"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me." (Matt 19:21)
"The Apostles received this way of life from Christ and made it their own, renouncing the world in response to His call, disregarding fatherland, relatives and possessions. At once they adopted a harsh and strenuous way of life, facing every kind of adversity, afflicted, tormented, harassed, naked, lacking even necessities, and finally they met death boldly, imitating their Teacher faithfully in all things. Thus through their actions they left behind a true image of the highest way of life." --St Neilos the Ascetic
The monastic "specialty", if you will, is prayer. Unceasing, noetic, pure prayer of the heart. "Pray without ceasing." And as Michelle said above, monks and nuns do not only pray for themselves, but literally for the whole world. If you truly believe that God answers the prayers of the faithful, then you will see very clearly how the whole-hearted prayers of monastics benefit us, though we do not see them.
And the monastery gate is always wide open to all of our needs. The hospitality of the monasteries is amazing.
I know several monks. And I will say, that just being around them....attending their services.....brings such peace to my soul. I never go there, that I am not benefitted tremendously. Solitude becomes communion, true communion, for our unity as brother and sister is our union with Christ. Fragmented, torn from Christ and ourselves, we can never be whole. The family of humanity is a great and marvelous image formed like a puzzle with pieces intertwined, embracing. But if each piece will not itself be one, then the puzzle may never be fit. Thus the ascetic plunges into solitude, departure, for here the broken self is healed. Here distractions falls before the gates of contemplation, and fallen being finds reality in communion with the Maker of it all. Here, alone, the thread is re-spun, strengthened, purified, brightened, that it may be woven as never before into the fabric of humanity. Christ will be all in all, and all in Him must be one. But community without self is illusory, finite.
The monk's life is summed up in prayer.
There is so much more to say, but I've rambled too long. And not only that, but an struck with a sense that I am unworthy to be talking of such things. Lord have mercy.
I hope you can forgive me if this doesn't make any sense. I can be quite scatter-brained sometimes. At any rate, I pray you will reconsider the idea you have of monasticism being "self-righteous" or and insult to the Life-giving Blood of Christ. There are many callings in the Church for us. Monasticism is one of those callings. Monks and laypeople alike are "saved" by the same way. But they are different walks...monasticism is a type of "bloodless martyrdom."
First off, monasticism and celibacy is regarded as a gift from God. A calling. (1 Cor 7:7) "..and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." (Matt 19:10-12) Monasticism is the consecration of the celibate life. It is a life devoted exclusively to repentance, prayer, and service to God.
"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me." (Matt 19:21)
"The Apostles received this way of life from Christ and made it their own, renouncing the world in response to His call, disregarding fatherland, relatives and possessions. At once they adopted a harsh and strenuous way of life, facing every kind of adversity, afflicted, tormented, harassed, naked, lacking even necessities, and finally they met death boldly, imitating their Teacher faithfully in all things. Thus through their actions they left behind a true image of the highest way of life." --St Neilos the Ascetic
The monastic "specialty", if you will, is prayer. Unceasing, noetic, pure prayer of the heart. "Pray without ceasing." And as Michelle said above, monks and nuns do not only pray for themselves, but literally for the whole world. If you truly believe that God answers the prayers of the faithful, then you will see very clearly how the whole-hearted prayers of monastics benefit us, though we do not see them.
And the monastery gate is always wide open to all of our needs. The hospitality of the monasteries is amazing.
I know several monks. And I will say, that just being around them....attending their services.....brings such peace to my soul. I never go there, that I am not benefitted tremendously. Solitude becomes communion, true communion, for our unity as brother and sister is our union with Christ. Fragmented, torn from Christ and ourselves, we can never be whole. The family of humanity is a great and marvelous image formed like a puzzle with pieces intertwined, embracing. But if each piece will not itself be one, then the puzzle may never be fit. Thus the ascetic plunges into solitude, departure, for here the broken self is healed. Here distractions falls before the gates of contemplation, and fallen being finds reality in communion with the Maker of it all. Here, alone, the thread is re-spun, strengthened, purified, brightened, that it may be woven as never before into the fabric of humanity. Christ will be all in all, and all in Him must be one. But community without self is illusory, finite.
The monk's life is summed up in prayer.
There is so much more to say, but I've rambled too long. And not only that, but an struck with a sense that I am unworthy to be talking of such things. Lord have mercy.
I hope you can forgive me if this doesn't make any sense. I can be quite scatter-brained sometimes. At any rate, I pray you will reconsider the idea you have of monasticism being "self-righteous" or and insult to the Life-giving Blood of Christ. There are many callings in the Church for us. Monasticism is one of those callings. Monks and laypeople alike are "saved" by the same way. But they are different walks...monasticism is a type of "bloodless martyrdom."
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