Having a shortage of monks

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I could see why there’d be a Monk Shortage. If a man feels called to serving the Church then he’ll usually try to become a Priest instead.
 
As God is in charge then this is His will so worry not. In times past the only work for an educated man WAS in a religious order, a leadership thing. All that has changed now of course so so has the pattern of church life, The monks were the leaders in society and education and now they are not needed to do that, Let the past go. Embrace now and the future.
 
If he’s called to the diocesan priesthood then that’s what he will follow. If he’s called to the diaconate, that’s a different call. And a call to the religious life is still different.

Whether there’s a shortage of monks, who can say? Times change, the ways people serve the Church and the world change.
 
The Church is experiencing the worst crisis in her history. Paul VI said the smoke of Satan had entered the Church. Leo XIII had the vision and was told that Satan would be given 100 years to try and destroy the Church. John Paul II, before he was Pope, before an American audience warned us about the anti-Christ and the anti-Church. Benedict XVI told us about the virtual Council that perverted the real Council. Fulton Sheen said we’re in the fourth great crisis of the Church and that our enemy, this time, was the world. Our Lady appeared at Fatima to give us the solution. So fear not. Heaven warned us and now the message is coming to pass. The devil is assaulting the Church and controls the world. We just need to pray, do penance and remain faithful to Our Lord.
 
I am a monk. I made my Solemn Profession Corpus Christi Sunday 2016. Yes there have been several closures within my congregation of Benedictines but my own community is trying to bounce back. We do have a postulant and three men in simple profession.

There will have to be some more closures and mergers but I think there is stll plenty of life left in the monastic movement as a whole. There are signs of growth as well, especially in stricter and more traditional orders and monasteries. But there are also new forms of monasticism that show promise as well. Don’t schedule the wake just yet!
 
Trilor said:
There are signs of growth as well, especially in stricter and more traditional orders and monasteries.
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Hi Trilor,

I believe the decline started when the monasteries started modernising their way of life e.g. their rule, their habits, their disciplines. I think the radical changes did great damage, especially to the monks themselves. It literally changed their identities and their way of life. Do you agree?
 
I think that is part of it. But I think also that monasteries are becoming smaller and leaner. I don’t think you will see the huge physical plants like that of St Vincent’s (Pennsylvania) or St John’s (Minnesota) anymore. The raical changes did indeed do a lot of damage, from what I have been able to gather from monks who were around in the late 60s and early 70s.
 
Trilor said:
The raical changes did indeed do a lot of damage, from what I have been able to gather from monks who were around in the late 60s and early 70s.
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Did the monks tell you why the radical changes were made? I’ve thought about it for a long time and I can’t understand it. If I was called by God to join a monastery to live a specific charism, I’d weep if my monastery was closed, if I was told to stop wearing the habit, and if I was told to stop following the traditional rule. Can you imagine the turmoil experienced by older monks who’d spent most of their lives faithfully following the charism of their order? The ‘reforms’ turned their world upside down. Thankfully, men like Father Groeschel decided to save their traditions by forming new orders, and we see many monasteries returning to the older traditions. So things seem to be improving.
 
It seems to me that there was a great desire to experiment and try new things for the sake of experimentation, without understanding why the traditions developed in the first place. I think now there is a greater interest in knowing WHY some of these customs existed in the first place and so they have a better understanding of which customs are good and which ones are done simply because We’ve Always Done It That Way Before.

yes, the changes were enormous and many religious brothers and sisterd did indeed leave their communities over it.
 
If you’re a monk then how are you able to be on the Internet? I thought the vow of poverty precluded ownership of computers or cell-phones.

I’m sorry if this question sounds stupid or causes offense; I’m just genuinely curious.
 
Monasteries are still connected to the outside world , with cell phones and internet access, it doesnt mean how ever that members have private access to such things, usually there will be a common place where it can be accessed less members are some where on assignment and are issued one or use a stipend to pay for access. which then becomes ownership but barely since it is for staying in touch with the community and work. Wether or not members need permission to use the internet to talk to the outside world for what ever reason varies.
 
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