Joining a Religious Order Outside the U.S

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brian.standridge

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Hello all!
I have discerned a vocation for 8 years to become a Trappist monk. I am curious if a man can join a monastery in a country outside of the United States (in this case Rome, sweet Rome in particular). I’m needing some solid feedback on this since I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to a particular monastery in Rome. It sounds absolutely bananas, I’m fully aware but I never thought I’d be a monk when I was growing either (equally as bananas). Adelphoi…please help.
-Brian Standridge
 
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There are no limits on which monastery you may choose. For the Trappists and others who follow the Rule of St. Benedict, choose well since they practice stability.

Do you speak Italian?
 
Not as well as I’d like, well enough to get by until I become fluent

Brian Standridge
 
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Brian, please remove you phone from your post. It isn’t a safe internet practice and it is against the rules here.

I’d think you first call should be to those monks in Rome. You might also ask your diocesan vocations office if they have any information.
 
Have you been to visit this monastery? Have you done a live-in or observership with them?

I guess I’m wondering – though it’s really none of my business – if you’re ready to apply to the community or if you’re still in the early stages of checking them out.

And I’d ask the same kind of questions about whether you’ve spent any time in an American monastery to get a feel for what it would be like and have a basis for comparison.

My concerns about looking at a European community would be related to language and culture. Maybe that all works out well, but for myself I think it would be easier to be someplace where the culture feels familiar.

Finally, have you spoken with the vocations people at the monastery to find out what you would need in terms of a visa or whatever?
 
I do speak Italian, and I’ve spoken to the Vocation Director a couple of times. I suppose I have my answer though. I’ve done nothing about my discernment hastily, and have spoken with the superior general of the region for the Jesuits for some time now. It just seemed strange how profoundly I was getting that prompting. I don’t think anyone goes to a country where they don’t speak the language, but thank you for your concern all the same. As far as the visa it would be a student visa. Thanks for the advice. I’m aware that the situation sounds weird, hopefully I’ll end up with the perfect fit. I’ve spent two weekends in an American monastery and I love the liturgies and how it feels like heaven is all around me. Thanks for the feedback
 
FWIW, if you have several monasteries of an order (E.g. the Trappist monks) in a country (“province”) there might simply not be vacancies at one specific monastery in which case there’s more than likely vacancies at another monastery of that order. Yes, monasteries have a fixed number of rooms/beds.

As for changing country there shouldn’t be much of a problem. You can start with a tourist visa and then simply extend your stay (US citizens get long tourist VISA in western European countries, and from what I understand it’s automatically granted upon arriving at the airport - but you might want to research that). If, indeed, you’re applying for a religious community that more than likely entitles you to a “missionary visa” - and this visa is actually considered one of the easiest to get. As a monk, you’ll be considered a worker entitled to social security like everyone else (as per “concordata” between Church and State). Meaning, you get both work/missionary VISA from the get-go.

Europe is actually very flexible with VISA’s depending on the country you’re staying in. Some countries give a permanent work visa after 5 years, Italy might be more restrictive and longer but it shouldn’t be hard to get.
 
Actually people go to countries where they dont speak the language all the time… refugee’s and immigrants. I know you did not mean that, but it is food for thought. I am an immigrant and went to a country where I do speak the language and resettled so to speak, and it was challenging. I didnt think it was the Holy Spirit’s doing then… but I do now. I only comment because I want to say moving countries at the Holy Spirit’s behest is not in the slightest bit bananas, it is wonderful. I don’t wish to comment here on what God rescued me from and what he has drawn me too, but since I have trod the path he set for me… I have come to think the only bananas thing is not following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I would say here, always remember Mary’s question to the angel, or at least the spirit in which she asked ie how could she do God’s will, her willingness to obey. The angel tells her and then she submits. You seem to already be doing this. May God be with you. I’ll pray for you.
 
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Brian – did you see the other post concerning religious life and chronic health issues? They’re drawn to the Trappists, as well. Perhaps the two of you could strike up a relationship.
 
I may have misunderstood you but I’m not sure you understand how vocations to the Trappists, or indeed any monastic order, works. To become a Trappist having a vocation to the Trappists is not enough. In monastic orders each monastery is autonomous and can be very different. A novice master will not just be checking if he discerns you have a vocation to the Trappists but whether you will be a fit to his community. Just because a monastery is in Rome doesn’t mean it’s the one you should choose. If you’ve never been there and spent some time with that community you cannot know whether that’s where your vocation truly lies.

It’s not the same as a vocation to the Franciscans. If you became a Franciscan friar you can be, and probably would be, moved from friary to friary as the needs of the order required. Therefore, your vocation would primarily be a Franciscan one. However, if you’re going to join a monastic community such as the Benedictines, Carthusians, Trappists, etc. you will live in the same monastery for the rest of your life. Therefore, your vocation must be to a particular monastery.

Here in the UK where I live there are three Trappist monasteries of monks. They will be three different communities. You might find you would be a fit at Mount St Bernard but not Caldey or Nunraw. I know the Trappists in Rome wouldn’t even consider you until they’d got to know you and you’d spent some time among them.
 
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