Monastic Vocations

The formation process for a Benedictine monk is a deeply spiritual and disciplined journey that follows the Rule of St. Benedict, which emphasizes stability, obedience, and conversion of life. The process includes several stages, each designed to help the candidate discern whether monastic life is their true calling. Below is an outline of the typical formation process:

1. Inquiry and Discernment Phase

• Initial Contact: A person interested in monastic life contacts the community. They may visit, speak with a vocation director, and participate in discernment retreats to explore their calling.
• Discernment: This period allows the inquirer to pray, learn about the Benedictine way of life, and discern whether they feel a genuine call to monastic life.

2. Postulancy (6 months to 1 year)

• Entering the Monastery: If the candidate and the monastic community mutually agree, the candidate begins as a postulant. This is a period of testing to experience the rhythm of monastic life firsthand.
• Integration into Daily Life: The postulant participates in the daily prayer (Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours), work, and communal activities of the monastery. They are not bound by vows yet.
• Spiritual Guidance: The postulant receives guidance from a spiritual director and the novice master to understand the demands of monastic life.

3. Novitiate (1 to 2 years)

• Formal Reception as a Novice: After postulancy, the candidate, with the community’s approval, is received as a novice in a special ceremony. They are given the Benedictine habit (usually a simple tunic) and a new name.
• Focus on Formation: The novitiate is a time of deeper immersion in prayer, work, study, and community life. Novices study the Rule of St. Benedict, theology, scripture, liturgy, and other aspects of monastic spirituality. Formal studies are facilitated through Holy Wisdom Theological Seminary.
• Increased Silence and Solitude: There is often an emphasis on silence, solitude, and listening to God during the novitiate. This helps novices deepen their relationship with God and learn the inner aspects of monasticism.
• Discernment: Throughout the novitiate, the novice continues to discern whether monastic life is their true vocation, and the community discerns whether the novice is suited for life in that community of monastic practitioners.

4. Simple Profession (Temporary Vows, 3 to 5 years)

• Temporary Vows: If the novice and community feel it is the right path, the novice makes temporary vows (also called simple profession) for a period of 3 to 5 years. These vows typically include obedience, stability, and conversion of life (a vow unique to Benedictines, implying ongoing spiritual growth and transformation).
• Monastic Habit: At this stage, the monk may receive a fuller version of the Benedictine habit, including the scapular, which is worn over the tunic.
• Life as a Junior Monk: The monk, now in simple profession, fully participating in its life. The focus is on ongoing formation, continuing theological education, and the deepening of their monastic vocation.

5. Solemn Profession (Final Vows)

• Perpetual Vows: After living under temporary vows for several years, the monk may discern, with the community, to make solemn profession (final vows). This is a lifelong commitment to live according to the Rule of St. Benedict within that particular monastic community.
• Commitment to Stability: A key part of solemn profession is the vow of stability, meaning that the monk commits to live in that specific monastery for life, unless extraordinary circumstances arise.
• Community Role: After solemn profession, the monk becomes a full and permanent member of the community. They may take on additional responsibilities, such as teaching, spiritual direction, administration, or specialized work in the community.

6. Ongoing Formation

• Continual Growth: Even after making solemn vows, the process of formation continues. Monks are expected to keep growing in their spiritual life and to deepen their understanding of the Rule, theology, and the monastic tradition.
• Openness to Conversion: The vow of conversion of life means that Benedictine monks commit to continual personal and spiritual development throughout their lives. This includes ongoing education, retreats, and spiritual direction.