Monastic Vocation

All people are called to love and serve God. Some people are called to serve their brothers and sisters by devoting their lives in service to the poor. Some are called to bring new life into the world through married love. A few people, however, are called in love to give themselves to God, in a life dedicated to prayer, through Benedictine monastic life.

"Discernment of a Vocation"

Discerning a vocation to the Benedictine life at Minster involves a process of prayer and dialogue and three parties are involved. God who calls, the person who is called, and the Church through the community, guided by the Holy Spirit, discerns if the call is genuine. This process will take some time.

There are however some important elements which are essential for a genuine vocation to our life. The young woman must be Roman Catholic, single, free from all obligations to her family and not be in debt.

Our life is joyful and rewarding, but it is also demanding. The young woman must be healthy both mentally and physically and have an ability to live with others in community. Usually she will be between 22 and 39 years of age. It is important to have the desire to spend time each day in spiritual reading (lectio divina) and be eager to participate fully in the Liturgical prayer, and life of the community.

"Is she truly seeking God?"

St Benedict wrote that "the concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God and shows eagerness for the Work of God (i.e. the Divine Office), for obedience and for trials" (Holy Rule chapter 58). These 'four aspects ' of a Benedictine vocation practically cover the whole of our spiritual life

In the Benedictine life the nun binds herself by solemn vows of obedience, stability in the community, and the monastic way of life. The monastic call is always to a specific monastery.

Seekers

If you feel drawn to a life of prayer with the Benedictine community at Minster Abbey the first step is to contact the Novice Mistress. You may then be invited to stay in the Guest House to experience something of our monastic hospitality and to meet the community. You may be asked to visit a number of times. During your visit it is wise to ask to see the Novice Mistress and discuss your feelings about your possible vocation. If both parties believe God is really calling you, you may be invited to live alongside the community for a month or so in order to experience life 'on the inside'. If you still feel a desire to pursue a monastic vocation and the community feels it is right to do so, you may request to enter the community as a postulant.

Formation

The period of postulancy is usually about 8 months. After this 8 month period the young woman will begin her time of novitiate. This is a period of two years, which begins with the young sister receiving the habit and a white veil. The novitiate is a period of formation in the monastic life, with classes in the Holy Rule, Monastic Tradition, and the Liturgy, as well as participation in the work of the community. During this time the novice is free to leave at any time and may also be asked by the community to do so.

After the end of the novitiate, if the young sister still desires the monastic life, the community will take a vote to decide if the novice should take temporary vows. These vows last for a minimum of three years during which time the junior sister receives further formation in Scripture, Catholic Theology and Liturgy, to enable her to live a fruitful monastic life. After another vote of the community she may proceed to Solemn Vows which make her a full member of the community. This extended time of discernment, allows the young woman to make a free and informed decision to commit herself to the monastic life as it is lived at Minster Abbey. For those of us who are called to live this life it brings great joy and true happiness.

If you feel drawn to this vision and to our way of life at Minster Abbey write to:

The Novice Mistress
Minster Abbey
Minster, Nr. Ramsgate, Kent
CT12 4HF

If you would like to learn more about monastic life the following may be helpful

• The Rule of St Benedict in English.
• Michael Casey OCSO, Truthful Living: St Benedict's Teaching on Humility, (Leominster: Gracewing, 2001).
• Cyprian Smith OSB, The Path of Life: Benedictine Spirituality (Leominster: Gracewing, 1995).
• Columba Stewart OSB, Prayer and Community: The Benedictine Tradition, (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1998).
• Ambrose Tinsley OSB, Pax: The Benedictine Way, (Blackrock: Columba Press, 1995).

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