Do Benedictine Monks require you to shave your head when you join the abbey?

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SlavesOfJesusandMary

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I was wondering when you become a Benedictine monk, are you required to shave your head? Because I see mainly Benedictine monks have shaved heads, also the place im looking at is Our Lady of clear creek abbey in Oklahoma!!
 
This is one, very traditional, community of Benedictines. The answer for the vast majority is no!
 
The OP says he’s looking into Clear Creek in Oklahoma. They’re pretty traditional, so they might require shaved heads, but I’m not for sure.
 
Yes, I know. But his question was more generally about Benedictines. Clear Creek may require it, but I was speaking about his larger question.
 
Thank you, what is the age to join this abbey because I don’t know but I feel God wanting me to join 🙂
 
I went to a Benedictine high school in Illinois that was pretty close(next county) to another Benedictine abbey. Each abbey is pretty much independent and the monks actually take a fourth vow of stability, which means that they stay with that abbey for life. The rule of Saint Benedict gives great freedom to each abbot, so what is customary for one abbey may not be at all common at another. Shaving heads is not universal to Benedictines. When I was in high school almost all the monks had hair, but that was more than 50 years ago and they may not have a choice about hair styles today. My sister-in-law’s nephew spent some time in discernment at that abbey but was one of the few members under 50. He decided that life was not for him.
 
I used to live down the road from St Benet’s Hall, home to a detachment of monks from Ampleforth Abbey and visiting Benedictines from communities around the world. All the monks there appeared to possess full heads of hair. However, looking at the Clear Creek Abbey website, you are correct that they all appear to be completely bald.
 
Yes I know haha, I just put shaved head because I didn’t think of it at the time 😹😹
 
I began shaving my head at the beginning of this year, not for any religious reason, but because it’s cleaner, I don’t have that much hair in the first place, you save a ton of money on haircuts, there is no question of having to sit down in a chair within close proximity to others during this pandemic, and on many men, it looks better. (I will leave it to the sensibilities of those who see me daily, whether that applies to me or not.) The Marines do it in boot camp.

For a man to have his head shaved is by no means the end of the world. I heartily recommend it.
 
I have a family member who is a Benedictine and his monastery does shave their heads.

Reach out to Clear Creek with your questions! It’d be a great way to get a relationship going with the vocation director and start your discernment!
 
Just one slight correction. The vow of Stability is not a “fourth” vow, but one of the 3 that all Benedictines take, in addition to Obedience and “Conversion of Manners” (which encompasses, among other things, celibacy and poverty).
 
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