MONASTIC LIFE VOCATION AT
OUR LADY OF
THE
What, dear brothers, is more delightful
than this voice of the Lord calling to us?
See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life.
Prologue - Rule of St. Benedict
Monastic life at
Our Lady of the
The genuine call
to take up one's cross each day according to the evangelical councils and in
monastic stability and conversion of life comes only from God. It may surprise
some to learn that although the practice of poverty and chastity are essential
to monastic life they are not explicitly mentioned in the monastic formula for
profession of vows. Since the time of St. Benedict the words stability,
conversion of life, and obedience have been adopted as very apt terms to
designate the responsibilities assumed by the monk on the day of his
profession. In monastic circles the vows of poverty and chastity are contained
within that of conversion of life. The traditional formula of monastic
profession, used during the last eight centuries is as follows:
I, Brother (N), promise my stability, my conversion of life and my obedience until death in accordance with the Rule of St. Benedict, Abbot. I do this before God and all his saints, in this monastery of (N), of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, constructed in honor of the Blessed and ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and in the presence of Dom (N), abbot of this monastery.
The primary
responsibility of the newly professed monk is to love with all his heart. The
vows presuppose this love and express it exteriorly by incorporating him into a
state of life which has no other reason for existence than the love of Christ
and all that implies. The monk is a lover, not interiorly and spiritually, but
also exteriorly and juridically.
The usual
procedures for applying to our community include: Initial Contacts, Observership, Interim, Postulancy,
Novitiate, Juniorate.
INITIAL
CONTACTS
The discernment
process begins with the initial contact between the inquirer or applicant and
the vocation director by means of correspondence and/or phone conversations. If
these develop positively they will be followed by a personal visit of the
applicant to the monastery. During his visit he will meet with the vocation
director and together they will try to discern whether or not God seems to be
calling the candidate to monastic life at OLP. The applicant will be invited to
fill out a preliminary questionnaire before the visit.
If the initial discernment is positive the candidate will meet the abbot and
the other member of the Admissions Board for verification and approval. When
everyone concerned is in agreement the candidate will be considered for a 3-month
observership in the community.
OBSERVERSHIP
Before entering
the observership the candidate will write a brief
autobiography, sign a statement of truth and freedom and provide testimonial
letters. When these are all in order he will be invited to live in the
novitiate as an observer, following the novitiate schedule. The observership is the candidate's introduction to monastic
living and his first stage of formation. It is also a time for further
discerning and testing whether or not God is calling him to monastic life in
this community. During the course of it the decision whether or not the
candidate should proceed to the postulancy will be
made.
INTERIM
After his observership the candidate usually returns home for a month
or so or as long as required to complete the process before final approval for postulancy. During this time he will assemble the documents
required by the church and the community. He will also take medical and dental
exams and psychological evaluations. After all the results are in he will be
informed whether or not his application is approved. If it is approved he will
settle all his 'worldly' affairs before entering the community as a postulant.
The vocation director is available for guidance and direction at all times
during the process.
POSTULANCY
Normally the postulancy lasts for one year but can be extended, usually
for no more than another six months. It is a time for adjustment to monastic life,
continuing formation and further discernment and testing one's call with
emphasis on preparing oneself for entering the novitiate. At the end of the postulancy, if everything is in order, the candidate will
receive the monastic habit of a Cistercian novice and become a member of the
community.
NOVITIATE
Though
discernment continues during the novitiate the emphasis is more focused on
preparation and training for taking monastic vows. It lasts for two years but,
for good reason, can be extended six months. When his novitiate is complete,
and the novice master recommends him for first profession and the abbot with
his council and the vote of the conventual chapter
approves, the candidate may take first vows and enter upon the juniorate program of monastic formation.
A religious
transferring from another Order will spend two years on probation in the
novitiate beginning with the arrival of his transitus.
All this while the candidate is under the direction of
the abbot and the novice master. During these stages the candidate is
free to leave of his own accord or he can be dismissed if that seems indicated.
JUNIORATE
Upon making his
first vows the candidate will leave the novitiate and take up the life of the
junior professed. The juniorate
is three years with annual renewal of vows. When there are adequate reasons it
can be extended up to six years more. A religious already in final vows
normally spends one year in the juniorate program;
three years if in temporary vows.
During this time
the candidate lives the monastic life steeping himself
further in the monastic tradition and spirituality while preparing for final
profession. He will be under the direction of the abbot and junior director
during this time. Final vows are for life.
If you feel God
may be calling you to a monastic way of life (which is really a monastic way to
life) here at OLP and would like to begin a process of discernment with us, you
are invited to contact the vocation director. He will gladly assist you in the
discernment process in any way he can.
You may
write to the vocation director with any questions you may have or to tell him
of your interest:
VOCATION DIRECTOR OUR LADY OF THE
5045 JORDAN,
PHONE: [63] (928) 502-4756
To their fellow monks they show the pure love of
brothers; to God, loving fear; to their abbot, unfeigned and humble love. Let
them prefer nothing whatever to Christ, and may he
bring us all together to everlasting life.
Chapter 72 - Rule of St. Benedict
The information on this page was written by Br.
Anthony Weber of Genesee Abbey.
Additional information given by Fr. Agileo
Sibayan, Vocation Director OLP.