A Calling to Monastic Life
Wouldn't it be nice to be a monk?
Some think of the monastery as a place to escape this world. Monks don’t actually live a life of escape. They live a life of purpose different from the world, a corporate life where the community chooses to seek God daily together.
This seeking God together is different from going it alone. It requires cooperation that takes the form of obedience, humility, charity towards all, listening to others, and yielding to the group.
Monastics focus on prayer and form their day around prayer. At Saint Brigid of Kildare Monastery, we are Benedictine monks and follow the Rule of St. Benedict.
Some think of the monastery as a place to escape this world. Monks don’t actually live a life of escape. They live a life of purpose different from the world, a corporate life where the community chooses to seek God daily together.
This seeking God together is different from going it alone. It requires cooperation that takes the form of obedience, humility, charity towards all, listening to others, and yielding to the group.
Monastics focus on prayer and form their day around prayer. At Saint Brigid of Kildare Monastery, we are Benedictine monks and follow the Rule of St. Benedict.
Prayer is a cultivated state of life. It takes time. It takes attention. Most of all it takes consistency.
- Joan Chittister, The Breath of the Soul |
What is a monastic calling?
Monastic calling is a vocation. Vocation is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action, especially a divine call to the religious life. An entry into a religious order."
Monastic calling is a vocation. Vocation is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action, especially a divine call to the religious life. An entry into a religious order."
Vocation: this experience gives us the courage to embark on a new life with God at its center, helping us to accept the inevitable sacrifices involved, and allowing us to yield control of life to God and others.
- Michael Casey, Strangers to the City |
How do I know I am being called?
Each person is called in a unique way, but the way always involves prayer, listening, more prayer, and more listening. This process is called discernment.
During the entry process to Saint Brigid’s, we purposely fold in many opportunities for discernment as a person seeks to determine whether God is calling them to this monastery. We provide people to walk alongside them on this journey of discerning their call.
Each person is called in a unique way, but the way always involves prayer, listening, more prayer, and more listening. This process is called discernment.
During the entry process to Saint Brigid’s, we purposely fold in many opportunities for discernment as a person seeks to determine whether God is calling them to this monastery. We provide people to walk alongside them on this journey of discerning their call.
What, dear ones, is more delightful than this voice of God calling to us? See how God in Holy love shows us the way of life.
-Rule of St. Benedict |