Questions about the monastic life

[Silas_Barnabas]

Despite my age (I’m 14), I am already feeling a strong call to the monastic life. My parents have their hearts set on college, so I’ve got some time, but I’d still like to learn about it. Here are some questions I have:

Is it possible to be a priest at a parish or a mission for a period of time and then to join a monastic order later in life?
Can you continue theological studies or earn a religious degree while in a monastery?
I know the answer is probably no, but can you move between orders? For example, could I be a Dominican for a time and then be a Trappist?

The religious orders I’m interested in are:

Trappists, because of the strict observance and Thomas Merton;
Dominicans, because I want to be a preacher and because of St. Thomas Aquinas;
Jesuits, because I want to be a missionary, and they’re really cool;
And Carmelites, because of St. Therese, my best friend in heaven.

Now, my parents have their hearts set on college, so it will probably be a while before I can join an order. Even if I could get out of college, I’ll still have to wait till I’m 18. But if I don’t do anything about this, I feel like I’m ignoring God; and when I feel like I’m ignoring God it’s very difficult to avoid other sin. What can I do to respond to this vocation short of actually joining a monastery?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Is it possible to be a priest at a parish or a mission for a period of time and then to join a monastic order later in life?

It is possible but that’s not how it’s generally done. Usually if you become a diocesan priest, you remain one; if you become a missionary, you remain one.

If you were to become a diocesan priest and then feel called to become a monk, you would need permission from both your bishop to leave the diocese and the abbot to come to the monastery. Neither of those is a given.

Can you continue theological studies or earn a religious degree while in a monastery?

Yes. There are monks who are priests. However, keep in mind that first they are monks and will continue to be monks whether or not they are called to become priests. That decision – whether a particular monk should go on to receive Holy Orders – is discerned by both the abbot and the monk. You might want to become a priest but if the abbot doesn’t agree, he is your superior and you owe him obedience.

That being said, there are at least three abbeys I can think of that include seminaries. There’s St. Meinrad in Indiana, St. John’s in Minnesota, and St. Vincent in Pennsylvania. There may be others but those are the one’s that immediately come to mind.

I know the answer is probably no, but can you move between orders? For example, could I be a Dominican for a time and then be a Trappist?

When you enter a particular order it is with the idea that you will stay there for the rest of your life. It’s possible that you might discover you’ve made a mistake but it’s not common to move from one to another. On the other hand, it is not completely impossible. But I would go into it with the idea that your choice is permanent.

Trappists, because of the strict observance and Thomas Merton;
Dominicans, because I want to be a preacher and because of St. Thomas Aquinas;
Jesuits, because I want to be a missionary, and they’re really cool;
And Carmelites, because of St. Therese, my best friend in heaven.

It would probably be good to learn more about each of these groups because they’re all very different. For one thing, they’re not all monastics!

I’m sure that checking out their web sites would help you start to learn about their different spiritualities and ways of life. Perhaps reading about their founders or other members of the order would give you a better sense of what each one is like.

What can I do to respond to this vocation short of actually joining a monastery?

Certainly reading and study would be good. Perhaps you could correspond with the vocation directors for different orders. I’m sure they would be happy to send you information so you could learn more. Perhaps you could also visit with some of the different orders you mentioned. That might give you a better sense of where you could fit in. And, whatever vocation may be right for you, pray always.

 

[jimcav]

I think SuscipeMeDomine answered all of your questions very well.

So let me just add two little things.

You might not want to limit yourself to the orders you named. Each are wonderful in there own way, but I don’t think any one of them will give you all you are looking for. There is probably no one order that can, but you might look into the Passionist order. There founder was St. Paul Of The Cross, and he wanted to start an order that was as contemplative as the Trappists and Carthusians, but as active and public as the Jesuits and Lazarists. I think he has accomplished just that. Passionists are up early to meditate on Christ Crucified and pray for the intentions of others for long periods of time, but they also do wondefrul, helpful retreats and days of prayer and devotion for lay people and religous and do missionary work around the world to. So maybe this is an order that will please both your active side and your contemplative side at the same time. Something to think about anyway.

In the mean-time, you might want to look into becoming a member of a third order or confraternity if those orders have them. They are a great way to share in the blessings and good works of the orders they are attached to and you would get to see monastic life up close and talk to the priests or monks there. I don’t know if there is a minimum age for these third orders ,so you would have to check…

Anyway, your young and you’ve got time. I’m sure your mind will take you in a thousand different directions between now and the time you have to make a decision. So relax, and just read, study and enjoy the journey of discernment!

 

[Toribus]

Just a quick comment - the only order named that is not monastic is the Society of Jesus. The Trappists and Carmelites are both properly monastic, the Dominicans are a mendicant order founded on monastic principles (such as communal living, eating, and prayer - St Thomas Aquinas calls it the “mixed life”).

The Jesuits on the other hand are purely missionary. Classically they were trained for years to be self-sufficient, as missionary life demands. Once ordained, Jesuits would not even pray the office in community, since they were almost always immediately sent out on mission.

Are there any particular aspects of “monastic life” that appeal to you? Community life perhaps, or a lifelong devotion to constant prayer? One of my best experiences on retreat in a Benedictine monastery, for instance, was the silent meal. It was so much more peaceful than I’m used to.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Just a quick comment - the only order named that is not monastic is the Society of Jesus. The Trappists and Carmelites are both properly monastic, the Dominicans are a mendicant order founded on monastic principles (such as communal living, eating, and prayer - St Thomas Aquinas calls it the “mixed life”).

We Carmelites are not monastic. We are a mendicant order as well.

 

[Cloisters]

Despite my age (I’m 14), I am already feeling a strong call to the monastic life. My parents have their hearts set on college, so I’ve got some time, but I’d still like to learn about it. Here are some questions I have:

Is it possible to be a priest at a parish or a mission for a period of time and then to join a monastic order later in life?
Can you continue theological studies or earn a religious degree while in a monastery?
I know the answer is probably no, but can you move between orders? For example, could I be a Dominican for a time and then be a Trappist?

The religious orders I’m interested in are:

Trappists, because of the strict observance and Thomas Merton;
Dominicans, because I want to be a preacher and because of St. Thomas Aquinas;
Jesuits, because I want to be a missionary, and they’re really cool;
And Carmelites, because of St. Therese, my best friend in heaven.

Now, my parents have their hearts set on college, so it will probably be a while before I can join an order. Even if I could get out of college, I’ll still have to wait till I’m 18. But if I don’t do anything about this, I feel like I’m ignoring God; and when I feel like I’m ignoring God it’s very difficult to avoid other sin. What can I do to respond to this vocation short of actually joining a monastery?

At your age, I think it would be safe to assume that God is calling you to the cloister of the heart. He is wanting you to grow in your relationship with Him, and detach yourself from the things of this world. “Love God and do what you will,” said St. Augustine.

I would recommend the following books: “An Easy Way to Become a Saint,” by Fr. O’Sullivan; “The Hermitage Within,” by a Monk, and “Practicing the Presence of God,” by Brother Lawrence.

Work on the monastery within first, then see where God leads.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters