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Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
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For those who are familiar with Catholicism/Orthodoxy, how does one become a monk? If I felt I was being called to become a monk, how would I know for sure? How would I find out if that was something God was calling me to become? I'm not even Catholic, so I know I'd have to convert. But then what?
For those who are familiar with Catholicism/Orthodoxy, how does one become a monk? If I felt I was being called to become a monk, how would I know for sure? How would I find out if that was something God was calling me to become? I'm not even Catholic, so I know I'd have to convert. But then what?
I think that most Catholic and Anglican Dioceses have "retreats" where the public can come to stay for a period and live a life of quiet, prayer and contemplation. Perhaps you should try something like that first.
Not all monks live in isolation in a monastery. Some work or teach.
I think your first step would be to approach a priest at a Catholic Church in your area. You would need a period of study, then confirmation as a Catholic. After that, you could study further what type of Brother you would like to become.
Location: Somewhere along the path to where I'd like to be.
2,180 posts, read 5,420,709 times
Reputation: 829
Quote:
Originally Posted by blue62
Rob, I just googled "How to become a monk" I think you will find your answer there..Sounds interesting..Let us know
Thanks, blue. I'll have to do that, if for nothing more than to simply familiarize myself with the whole way of life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Padgett2
I think that most Catholic and Anglican Dioceses have "retreats" where the public can come to stay for a period and live a life of quiet, prayer and contemplation. Perhaps you should try something like that first.
Yes, I've actually thought about that before. There are different monasteries around the country that offer them, and a few of them look really great. The Abbey of Gethsemani, in Kentucky, looks particularly appealing.
There's also another one in (I think) Iowa - ? Not sure which state in the midwest, but it looks cool as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Padgett2
Not all monks live in isolation in a monastery. Some work or teach.
Right - I understand that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Padgett2
I think your first step would be to approach a priest at a Catholic Church in your area. You would need a period of study, then confirmation as a Catholic. After that, you could study further what type of Brother you would like to become.
Yeah, because I'm not sure which order I would want to join. Part of me aspires to a life of quiet solitude, or perhaps endeavoring to serve the less-fortunate in some way. Part of me wants to look into some other work or perhaps working on a trade or craft, such as at the Abbey of Gethsemani where Thomas Merton, the Catholic author, lived and where they also produce (from what I've heard) INCREDIBLE fruit cakes. I love that stuff.
If you really want to investigate this further, perhaps you would like to think about the Episcopal Church. It also has monastic orders and the doctrine is somewhat different from the Roman Catholic.
This is just one of the Episcopal Monastic Orders.
But if I were you I would first start with your local Catholic church and sign up for adult religious instruction classes. They are free and are for people seeking to join the Catholic church or to learn more about it.
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Just wasn't sure if your "Wow" was actually "Are you out of your mind?!?", or more like "Whoa, you've never talked about that before!" 
