The Monastic Life

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The Monastic Life
 

Monasticism

First off, for those of you who do not know about the life of a Monk, it is very different from that of a Priest. The priesthood administers to the secular needs of the Church of the Canon by saying mass, hearing confessions, baptisms, marriages, etc… As a monk you will be tasked with very different ways of serving her Holy Mother Church. Monks serve the Church as scholars, writers, teachers, builders and possibly advisors to those who seek help or knowledge. A monk must give up his worldly possessions and give himself entirely to our Lord.  A monk devotes his whole life to serving God in a special way. Monks live in a place called a monastery. This is where they pray, study, write, and live out their life on earth. The life of a monk is one that requires patience and fortitude. Should you so choose to follow the path of the Monkhood, there are many things you must know.

 

Scripture and Studies

Monks study many Church documents but the main thing a monk will study is scripture. Like a priest, a Deacon or Monk will spend much of his life in study, learning and devising scripture. Many monks have a special devotion to scripture. They have a passion for learning and reading, so they become very intelligent and full of knowledge on the subject of scripture. Every monk must read scripture. They must try to memorize it and learn to read its somewhat difficult manuscript. This is a skill every Deacon or Monk must have before entering the monastery. They must be able to provide explanations and be able to decode scripture so one who has never read a day in his life will be able to comprehend the text. Scripture is a huge part of the monk’s curriculum. A Monk must study for his whole life, learning and growing both mentally and spiritually. The curriculum for becoming a monk is rigorous. To become a monk, one must be able to recite and decode many passages from scripture, as well as other church documents. A monk, throughout his training and his life as a Brother, will take many tests in order to keep his skills sharp. He will take both oral and written tests throughout his life in the monastery. He will study alongside his Brothers and grow in both grace, faith, and wisdom. In order to enter the Monkhood, he must take a oral and written test in front of the Abbot or in a special case, The Abbot and the High Pontiff, if the Holy Father wishes.

 

 

Hymns and Prayers

In order to become a monk, one must learn both hymns and prayers. He will memorize these prayers and will possibly be tasked with writing a hymn or prayer. These two forms of worship are a big role in the life of a monk. A monk will be tasked with learning and studying prayers and hymns as a part of his curriculum. He will become a well educated and knowledgeable man of prayer. In order to become a Monk, a Trainee or Deacon must be able to orally decode or devise a prayer or hymn of the Abbots choice. Usually, the monk will spend a good bit of time studying both scripture and prayers. They also must pray three times a day, at least. They must pray in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Sometimes, all the monks will gather together in prayer and worship or study together and exchange ideas and theories and discoveries. The monastery is a  place of vast knowledge and monks should be willing to share their discoveries with their brothers, or sisters, should there be nuns present in the monastery. The test about hymns and prayers is a difficult one but an important part of the monk’s growth both mentally and spiritually. A monk must know how to decode and delve into a prayer or hymn and be able to explain it precisely.

 

 

The Sacrifice

Becoming a monk entails many sacrifices that a monk should be aware of. A monk will give up his worldly possession and dedicate his life to one of poverty and prayer. He will be robed at all times except for bathing and sleeping. Many choose to shave their heads or most of their hair. A monk must be aware that he will be cloistered and will be in the church or it’s grounds at all times. The life of a monk is not one of ease. It is difficult and requires a great amount of discipline, patience, and fortitude. A monk, during his initiation, will gain his robes and will have the option of having his head shaved. The shaving of the head is symbolic for humility. A monk will then take his vows which bind him to the monkhood and his brothers. The monk must know all of his rituals and prayers in order to join. These will be tested through a series of trials that will take place prior to him taking his vows. He will, after becoming a Brother, still have tests and tasks in order to keep his skills able and his mind sharp.

 

 

Writing

Another major component of a Monk’s life is his ability to write. A monk will spend a good portion of his life learning both how to write and how to perfect his works as well as his ability to study and decode. A monk will be tasked to write thesis’, prayers, hymns, and explanations for both scripture and various other documents that pertain to the Church. They also will be tasked with writing a small paper on a certain time in the Church’s history. He or She (if the person is a nun) will become a excellent writer and will be able to decode any part of scripture. The Monk will know the challenges that come with his job in the Church and they must be ready to write a good bit.

 

The Tests

• The Writing Test- In order to become a monk, the aspiring monk must write a paper about a certain time in the Church’s history. Weather it be about the rule of Darfey, or the schism. He/ She must write in great depth about this subject. This paper will be read over by the Abbot and his closest officials and if deemed worthy, he will move on to his next test. This test will help the Acolyte’s writing skill improve and become stronger. The Acolyte should know a good amount about the subject and time period.

•  The Hymn Test- The Hymn test will be a assessment of the acolyte’s knowledge of the faith and the various hymns it contains. After spending time researching the material. The Acolyte will then write the hymn and sing it both in front of the Abbot and in front of the whole monastery during a specified time of prayer. This will teach the Acolyte both humility and confidence while improving his writing ability.

• The Thesis Test- The Acolyte will then be asked to write a thesis on a matter going on in the Church. It can be about whatever the Acolyte deems appropriate. This test will help the Acolyte to become confident while still asking questions about the faith. The monk should have a strong grasp on the subject and know their argument and be able to explain it to the Abbot.

• The Explanation Test- As a final test, the Acolyte is asked to explain a certain canticle. This tests if the Acolyte has actually studied and prepared for his final test. It is a tough trial but after taking all of his tests he should have gained a high enough skill to complete the test with diligence and grace. The monks should be familiar with the material by this point.

 

 

Conclusion

In Conclusion, the life of a Monk or Nun is not an easy one. There will be many challenges and chances to grow in many ways. Should one be considering the Monkhood, they must be aware of the challenges ahead and be prepared to work very hard to improve themselves, their fellow clergymen, the faith, and their relationship with God. There are other things that will occur when one enters the monkhood, and as we grow, so will our curriculum. We will grow together and serve the Church with diligence. These are a few things a Monk, Acolyte, or Deacon should know before entering the monastery .

 

Thank You and God Bless You All,

Deacon Jude

~Deacon Jude

[Knox213 10]

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