FAQs - Vocations | Saint Meinrad Archabbey Saint Meinrad Archabbey 1. What age can you join the monastery? Age 20-40, single Roman Catholic men are eligible to enter the monastery. Return to questions. 2. How many monks are at Saint Meinrad? Saint Meinrad Archabbey is the third largest Benedictine monastic community for men in North America. It is home to about 90 monks - brothers and priests - who range in age from 20s to 90s. About 60 monks reside at Saint Meinrad, while others are away on parish or chaplain assignments, teaching or attending school, or giving retreats. Return to questions. 3. What do you do all day? What a monk does with his day is so varied and complex that only a sampling can be given here. Prayer, work and leisure are all necessary for a healthy life. We try to make sure we have a balance of all these, but we don't always succeed. Work is an important dimension of monastic life.

At Saint Meinrad, many of us have one main occupation, such as teaching, carpentry, administration, health care, maintenance, spiritual direction, art or parish ministry. In addition, various jobs in the monastery must be done so that we can live together, such as cleaning, waiting tables, preparing food for breakfast, reading in church or at table, etc. Novices spend about half their day studying and the other half doing various chores. 4. What is your schedule like? Through the week, the daily schedule might look like this: 5:30 a.m. Morning Prayer 7:00 p.m. Compline 10:00 p.m. Silence On Sundays and great feasts, Morning Prayer begins at 7:15 a.m. with Mass at 9:30 a.m., and the main meal comes after Noon Prayer. On Tuesdays and Fridays, the novices and junior monks gather at 7 p.m. for common recreation. In the evenings, some watch the news on television or play cards in the calefactory (the community room). Others pursue hobbies or read. Students often use the time for schoolwork. Return to questions. 5.

Once you are a monk, can you ever leave the monastery? Yes. Monks come and go for various kinds of business. Some spend extended time away at school. Some are stationed outside the monastery in parishes. A number of monks give retreats and talks throughout the United States and sometimes farther away. The novices, as a group, visit the local area from time to time to get to know the neighborhood and have a bit of fun. Except for the annual overnight trip to the Abbey of Gethsemane or an important event in their immediate family, novices do not spend a night away from the monastery. Return to questions. 6. Do Benedictine monks take a vow of silence? No. Silence is a matter of time and place. We have times when we are silent, for example between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and we have places we are silent, for example the church and the hallways of the monastery. While silence is an important part of monastic life, it is only one piece. It is with our voice that we give communal praise to God, offer support to our brothers and share with one another the events of our day-to-day lives.

Just as we have times and places where we are more silent, we also have times and places where we are more social. St. Benedict invites the monk to "listen with the ear of the heart." For that, both true silence and authentic communication are necessary. Return to questions. 7. Will I still be able to see family and friends? Yes. Coming to the monastery doesn't mean saying good-bye to family and friends forever. In many regards, coming to the monastery is not much different than getting married and moving to another town. Monks are not cut off from the world or banished from those they love. We keep in contact through correspondence, phone calls and emails, and many of us spend at least part of our vacation each year with family and friends. Family and friends are also welcome to visit at Saint Meinrad. Return to questions. 8. Do you ever have any time to yourself? Being alone is part of being a monk. Although there are designated times when we come together for prayer, meals and recreation, there is also time to be alone, whether for private prayer, meditation, reading and hobbies. Return to questions. 9. When do you wear a habit? We generally wear our habits to church.

We wear them for the main meal of the day and in other formal situations. Some monks wear their habits most of the time, and others wear them less. That depends somewhat on the type of work that people are doing. Frankly, habits are ordinary clothes for us, and there is really no discussion about whether we should or shouldn't wear them. There are certain times when we always wear them, and times when we don't. Return to questions. 10. How important is prayer in your life? Prayer is central to the monastic life, which is organized so that five times a day we gather to pray in church. In addition to Mass, the monastery gathers for Morning Prayer (45 minutes), Noon Prayer (15 minutes), Evening Prayer or Vespers (30 minutes) and Compline (60 minutes). Both in the morning and afternoon, there is a 30-minute period designated for lectio divina, which is a way of praying the Scriptures. Except in designated areas of the monastery, a prayerful quiet pervades the monastery. Each monk's room, or cell as we call it, is also a personal sacred space where he can pray and study the things of God.

All of this helps us to focus our life on God revealed to us through Jesus the Word. Return to questions. 11. Is prayer always easy for you? Prayer is every day and several times a day in the monastery. Sometimes the bell rings, and you would rather continue working on a project or talking with someone, but when the bell rings you go. Prayer is an expression of our relationship to God, and it includes other people. Just as it is sometimes hard to be present to other people, sometimes it is hard to be present to God. Just as it is hard to relate to people, even people we know well and care about, so also prayer can be hard. Like all relationships, prayer is constantly changing. Sometimes it is growing and sometimes it is not. Part of monastic formation helps people learn the basics of prayer and the ways in which the life of prayer can develop. It is not always easy. Return to questions. 12. What is the difference between a brother and a priest? Whether ordained or not, we are all monks, and that is the primary vocation for everyone in the monastery at Saint Meinrad.

Some monks have been ordained priests to help with the pastoral and sacramental ministry of the Church, and this has been an important part of the life at Saint Meinrad since its founding. However, it is only one part; being a monk is the central part. When you look at the monks of Saint Meinrad, you cannot tell the difference between those who are ordained priests and those who are not. You can see only that they are monks, because that is their first and most important vocation. Monks who are also priests use the title "Father," while those who are not ordained go by the title "Brother." Return to questions. 13. How long does it take to become a member of the monastic community? Men come for a candidacy of three months. During that time, they live in the monastery and obtain more experience of our way of life before becoming a novice. After that, a person begins the novitiate, which lasts a year and a day. A novice is an individual who is a member of the community and is in the process of formation in becoming a monk. At the end of that year, the novices become junior monks by making vows for three years.

Although a person may extend the time of temporary vows, junior monks often make solemn vows at the end of three years and so become full-fledged monks of the monastery. Return to questions. 14. Can you keep your name? Taking a new name is a sign of conversion in the monastic tradition. At. Saint Meinrad, the novices - just before they make their first profession of vows - give a list of three names to Father Archabbot, who designates one of the three as the novice's monastic name. If no one in the community has the novice's baptismal name, a novice may ask for that. Return to questions. 15. What is a tonsure? The tonsure was an ancient practice of cutting one's hair to indicate that one was a monk. At Saint Meinrad, the practice takes place at two times: for entrance into the novitiate and for solemn vows. It is a visible sign that one has decided to embrace a new and different way of life. Return to questions. 16. What is the process for joining the monastery? When an individual becomes serious about joining a monastery and selects Saint Meinrad Archabbey, there are three basics steps.

The first step is to begin visiting the monastery and become acquainted with some members of the monastic community. If there is still interest after visiting, the next step is to be interviewed by the vocation committee, which consists of six monks, to discern if our lifestyle will help the individual get closer to God. If the individual and vocation committee discern that entrance into the monastery would be appropriate, then the third step consists of finishing up the necessary requirements for entrance into the candidacy program: application, physical exam, psychological and psychiatric evaluations. Each individual approaches these three steps at his own pace as he discerns how God is leading him. Return to questions. 17. What if I want to become a monk but am currently tied to other commitments, e.g. school? We sponsor an off-campus affiliation program for men who wish to formalize their relationship with Saint Meinrad Archabbey but who are delayed in entering candidacy because of commitments to family, work or school. Affiliates maintain a relationship with the monastery through consistent visits. They practice their faith in a parish and begin to participate in monastic practices, such as praying lectio divina and the Liturgy of the Hours on their own. A monk is assigned to serve as their discernment guide.

Return to questions. 18. What is a monastic vow? A monastic vow is a solemn promise made freely by an individual to give his or her life to God by living the monastic life. Return to questions. 19. What are the vows that Benedictine monks take? Benedictines take vows of obedience, stability, and fidelity to the monastic way of life. By obedience, a monk vows to follow the call of the community, particularly through the abbot, to serve the common good of the monastery. Obedience is a way of conforming oneself to Christ through concrete service to the community and to the Church. By stability, a monk binds himself to a specific monastery. It is often said that Benedictines do not have a generic vocation to be a monk, but a vocation to be a monk of a specific monastery. Each monastery has its own history and character, which shapes those who come to join. The vow of fidelity to the monastic way of life is a promise to become more and more a monk. This does not happen in a moment or even in several years, but it is a project for a lifetime. Part of becoming a monk means giving up the right to own property.

As monks, we hold everything in common. So if you need something, you ask the superior for it. If you have something you don't need any longer, then you pass it on to someone who needs it. For Benedictines, no one person owns anything, but the community owns everything and distributes things as people have need. The monastic life is also a call to celibate chastity. This is one way in which monks witness to the spiritual values that transcend the passing world that we live in. Celibate chastity is a call to give life to others - the life of God in Christ. Monastic life is also movement toward God by prayer and by a life of humble love. Benedict calls monks to live a life of truth. He calls them to accept the reality of their lives and then to move toward "that love which when perfect casts out fear." Again, this is not something accomplished easily or quickly; it is the project of a lifetime. Return to questions. 20. What are the rooms like? At Saint Meinrad, all of the monks have a room with a small private bath. The rooms are not large, but individual monks do not need lots of things for themselves. We refer to our rooms as cells.

What Do Monks & Nuns Do? (Krause) This simply-written article will help parents answer young children's questions about the people "in long black" who sometimes visit their parish, and introduce the concept of monasticism and its role in the Church. Clark Carlton's The Faith (Regina Orthodox Press, 1997) provides a more in-depth explanation appropriate for older children and teens, that includes a discussion of the roots of monasticism, sacrifice, repentance, and obedience. A Lesson for Children� What Do Monks & Nuns Do? When the Holy Spirit established the Church on Pentecost, those who followed Christ were given a way to praise God and work toward salvation together, instead of struggling alone. Every Orthodox Christian should be working toward salvation (which means "coming closer to God"), but some men and women are called by Him to put all their effort into knowing Him. They love praying to God and studying His Word so much that they do not marry or have children. The lives of these monks and nuns are totally dedicated to God and His Church. Monks and nuns live away from the rest of the world in communities called monasteries.

Men's monasteries are led by an abbot, and women's monasteries by an abbess. The most important job of a monk or nun is to pray, both privately and communally ("as a group" or "together") by reading the holy Hours, participating in frequent (sometimes daily) Liturgy, and observing all the other services and feasts in the cycle of the Church. Monks and nuns go to Church several times a day, every day! While we are at school and at work, or playing in the back yard, monks and nuns make sure that praise is always offered to God. Day or night, a monk or a nun somewhere in the world is singing to God or praying silently. That means the Orthodox Church is always at prayer. Monks and nuns pray for us. They pray in our place when we are doing something which keeps us from saying our own prayers, and they pray on our behalf by asking God to grant salvation and health to every Orthodox Christian. (They do this every day, even if we don't pray ourselves because we're too young or too sick - or just too lazy.) Because of monks and nuns, we are always remembered before God. What a great gift!

Because monks and nuns spend so much time praying and studying, they have a very special wisdom with which to interpret the world in which we live today. Many people call on monastics to ask for advice and guidance, or to learn more about the Orthodox Faith. The second job of a monk or nun is to teach the True Faith, Holy Tradition, and an Orthodox lifestyle to all of us, both formally (in sermons, lectures, or writings) and informally, by their example. Many monastics become experts in a specific areas: Scripture, the writings of the Church Fathers and Mothers, the lives of the saints, liturgics (that is, how and why our religious services are conducted), iconography, music, etc. With the blessing of their Abbot or Abbess, they may travel to speak, or write and publish books and newsletters on topics important to the Church. If several monks or nuns share the same area of expertise, the monastery itself may host retreats or lectures for those interested in learning more. Monks or nuns will often mentor ("oversee and guide") the studies of others, and help them to grow spiritually and academically so they can work for God, too.

Parish priests and other lay people may ask a monk to be their Spiritual Father. He hears their confessions and guides their spiritual growth and development. Nuns may be Spiritual Mothers, too, but absolution is always given by a priest, or monk who is also ordained a priest (called a hieromonk or archimandrite). Participating in the full cycle of Church services, praying privately, studying the Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers and teaching occupy a great deal of a monk's or nun's day. But in addition to their full-time efforts in praying and teaching, many monastics work "part-time" to support their monastery. Individual monks or nuns may write icons (that is, holy pictures that tell stories about Christ and the saints) for use in our homes and Churches or create beautifully-written passages of Scripture (called "illuminated calligraphy"), if God has given them that talent. Others may translate Scripture, music, or the writings of the Church Fathers from Greek, Russian, or Serbian into English for our use, or from English into a different language (like Aleute or Japanese) for missionary use.

A monastery might sell candles, incense, or other religious items (like prayer ropes), which certain monks or nuns spend part of each day making by hand. Frequently, monastic communities operate a book store or collect and sell items used in Church services or in our icon corners at home, since many parishes and families visit them. Some monks or nuns may be assigned the tasks of planting and tending the monastery's orchards and gardens, preparing food for the community and its visitors, and doing the cleaning and washing for everyone, so that others may do different types of work. The whole monastic community works together to do God's work. Monks and nuns work toward salvation together, by praying, studying God's Word and teaching it to us and to others, and working hard to support the Church and the monastery where they live. by Nichola Toda Krause © 1998 by Orthodox Family Life and the original author(s). URL: This web site is donated and maintained by TheoLogic Systems, which provides software and information tools for Orthodox Christians and parishes world wide. What is a Monk? (with pictures) What is a Monk?

Last Modified Date: 11 December 2016 Copyright Protected: Adorable animal families that will make you "aww" A monk is a man who has chosen to dedicate his life to religious service and contemplation. Such men can be found in the Christian, Hindu, Buddhist , and Taoist traditions, among others, and there are a number of different types of monk, ranging from brothers in active service to anchorites who choose to cut themselves off from society to pursue a life of asceticism and contemplation. In order to become a monk , a man must generally first apply to a monastery , where he will be interviewed by the residents before being accepted on a trial basis. If his trial is successful, he will be admitted as a novice, meaning that the opportunity to take vows will be offered at some point. After a period as a novice, which can vary depending on the rules of the community, he will be offered vows and be accepted fully into the community. Monks can live in a variety of communities. Some monasteries are dedicated to active service in the surrounding region, with residents working both on the monastery grounds and outside.

Others are more cloistered, fostering a more serious and focused environment that is dedicated specifically to religious pursuits, and residents are typically expected to work on the grounds of the monastery to produce food, garments, and other needs. In some cases, monks may even take vows of silence to increase the contemplative atmosphere. Ad Many religions also have a tradition that considers hermits and other solitary religious ascetics to be monks. In most cases, people choose to pursue a period of hermitage or isolate asceticism after serving in a monastery for a set period of time. While living as a hermit , a man relies on the kindness of others and his own abilities to support himself, with some choosing to live in harsh, isolated environments to enhance the experience. In some cultures, such periods are said to be very important for personal growth and religious development. Religious ascetics must generally take vows of poverty, obedience, work, service, and chastity. These vows are not to be taken lightly; the choice to become a monk should be considered a permanent life choice, although individuals are offered opportunities to depart the monastery before they take their vows.

Typically, those who join are expected to have no outstanding debt or obligations, and they must demonstrate a genuine commitment to the religious life before they will be accepted into a monastery on a trial basis. Ad BBC Inside Out - Monastery Inside Out - East Midlands: Monday February 7, 2005 MONASTERY Brother how art thou? The real big brothers in their solitude Have you ever wondered what it would be like to exchange your lifestyle and become a monk? It's a radical move by anybody's standards. One Cistercian monastery in Leicestershire is finding no shortage of candidates hoping to start a new life within the confines of its cloisters. "To be a monk is to be a brother among brothers in a living and human community where friendship, mutual help and support play a vital role... "Such a way of life demands great generosity and renunciation of oneself; its fruit is deep joy and peace." Mount St Bernard Abbey. Life in a monastery couldn't be more different from the stressful world we live in, so perhaps it's unsurprising that the lure of a cloistered lifestyle is attracting record numbers of aspiring monks.

So why do monks renounce the outside world and how do they cope with the austerity of a life dedicated to prayer? Inside Out goes behind the closed doors of Mount St Bernard Monastery in Leicestershire to investigate why it is having to turn away a growing number of applicants. From dissolution to resurrection England once boasted 54 Cistercian monasteries, but these closed their doors when they were dissolved by Henry VIII in the late 1530s. Today the only Cistercian monastery in England is Mount St Bernard near Coalville. Mount St Bernard - a peaceful retreat for the Cistercians Mount St Bernard survives only because it is a relative newcomer, dating from the 19th Century. It was founded in 1835 as a continuation of the dissolved Garendon Abbey, which provided a spiritual sanctuary between 1133-1538. Mount Bernard is unique in being the first Catholic abbey to be founded in this country after the Reformation. Designed by Augustus Pugin, the abbey has a real sense of solemnity and simplicity, with every element of the architecture echoing the austerity of the Cistercian order.

At one time up to 85 monks slept in the abbey's long dormitories, and spent a large part of their day in silence. Cistercian living The term Cistercian comes from the Latin "Cistercenses", referring to the name of the town Cîteaux (Latin Cistercium) where the order was founded. The brothers are often referred to as "White Monks", after the colour of their habits. Cistercian monks The Cistercians were founded as an order in 1098. The order began in Citeaux near Dijon in Burgundy, France. A total of 86 Cistercian abbeys were founded in Britain. Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries between 1536-1540. Mount St Bernard was founded in 1835 on land provided by Ambrose de Lisle, who was keen to re-introduce monastic life in England. The first monks at Mount St Bernard were called Luke, Xavier, Augustine, Cyprian, Placid and Simeon led by Fr. Odilo Woolfrey.

The first monastery opened in 1837 and was followed by a new monastery designed by Pugin in 1844. Mount St Bernard was given abbey status in 1848, and appointed the first English Abbot since the Reformation. Other famous Cistercian monasteries include Fountains, Rievaulx, Kirkstall and Tintern. The only convent of Cistercian nuns in Britain is at Stapehill near Wimborne, Dorsetshire. It has a community of 42 members. The Cistercian way of life puts great emphasis on solitude and isolation. The basic principle which sets the Cistercians apart was their desire to live more simply, in accordance with a literal interpretation of Saint Benedict's Rule. Today's monks follow a lifestyle which has remained largely unchanged for the last 900 years, with a few differences. They no longer sleep in dormitories, but in their own cells, enabling greater solitude and individual prayer. However the monks at Mount St Bernard still take lifelong celibacy vows, and they are committed to spending the rest of their lives in poverty and celibacy.

Prayer, work and reading form the three cornerstones of the brothers' lives. Work is highly revered by the Cistercian order, especially manual labour, and much of the day is spent in sustaining the monastery's needs. The type of work ranges from dairy farming, bee keeping, and looking after the orchard to pottery, building maintenance and running the shop and guest house. New monks start as postulants for six months, followed by two years as a novice, after which they take their first vows. Their first vow is for a minimum of three years after which they can leave or choose to take their solemn vows for life. The brotherhood "If you are going to be a Christian at all, you might as well live entirely for God." Blessed Cyprian Tansi, monk at Mount St Bernard, 1950-1964. The monks at the abbey have a long tradition of service to God - and one former monk, Iwene Tansi, was beatified by the Pope. Newcomers continue to join the monastery, perhaps reflecting the desire of applicants to escape from the rat race and pursue a more spiritual vocation. More and more monks are increasingly coming to the monastery, having led conventional lives.

Brother Michael has just taken his first vows - he's the abbey's Estate Manager, having completed his degree in Environmental Studies. A special calling - monks are often called to their vocation Brother Thomas used to work for Marconi on transistor development, whilst Brother Martin was formerly a freelance photographer with National Geographic magazine. Father John-Paul has been at the abbey for ten years, and recently completed a Theology degree by correspondence course. He took his lifetime vows five years ago, and now works as the monastery's archivist. Last year, he was ordained as a priest, something he dreamed of during his childhood. "I told my mum when I was 12 that I wanted to be monk, so I got a clip around the ear and I didn't mention it again till I was 15, by which time I'd got involved with the local parish. "So I went off to study for a priesthood at 16. I came from a Catholic family, but they were a bit shocked and surprised.

"Some were worried whether I was running away, but gradually as they've come and stayed at the monastery, they like what I do, and they appreciate that I have my own life." Growing interest The abbey currently has a full quota of 35 brothers, and has 50 applications to join the monastery every year. It is now having to turn away applicants because there are so many wanting to opt for a monastic life. So what are the attractions of the monastic life to those seeking a career change? Most have a calling or vocation from an early age. Father John-Paul realised that he was going to be a monk when he was sitting in his class at school. The teacher was talking about monastic life, and he was thinking about the romantic idea of being a monk, "Something just clicked and I knew," he says. Brother Michael also always thought that he'd become a monk, even when he had girlfriends, and has no regrets so far. "Once you're here, you settle into the routine. You don't worry about not going out and what you're going to do in a few years time.

You live more in the present." The monks pray seven times daily, starting at 3.30am Living in the protected abbey environment is no soft option either, as Brother Michael points out. "All the challenges you have to face outside, you have to face on the inside here too - living with 36 people who are all different, with different opinions, and personality clashes." "You have to remember when you come to a monastery, you're not leaving everything behind so whatever the problem was you're running away from, it's still with you when you come here. "Anyone who comes to a monastery to run away, would soon be runnning out again. If it's not your vocation, you just wouldn't survive in this kind of place." Father John-Paul agrees - life here is for those dedicated to prayer but monks lead very full lives, including producing a web site, working in the shop and running the farm. "The life is austere, but it's not a prison - it's a joyous place. I felt that this was the only thing going to fulfill me." A strict routine "We surrender our lives into the hands of God and never take them back". Thomas Merton.

The monks' strict daily routine is marked by the two bells in the tower which sound to tell the monastic community when to eat, sleep, work and pray. A life of prayer and dedication to God It's a long day - the brothers rise at 3.15am and start their work at 9.15am, after prayers and vigils. They work and pray throughout the day until 8pm, when they retire to bed. The monks try to be self-sufficient, running their own 200 acre dairy farm with 90 cows, and producing most of their own eggs, fruit and vegetables. Prayer is the focal point of the monastic day. Every monk spends part of his day reflecting and meditating on the words of scripture, a practice known as "Lectio Divina". At regular intervals during the day and night the monks come together to praise God in a ceremony called the "Opus Dei" or "Work of God", consisting largely of prayers, hymns, psalms and readings. The monks also welcome visitors to their guest house including friends, relatives and those interested in retreat or a monastic way of life - there were 5,000 guests last year.

Guests can stay up to five days, and there is no charge, although the Abbey encourages visitors to make a contribution to the running of the guest house. Test of faith For more than 900 years the brothers have taken their vows of poverty, obedience and celibacy. Brother Michael contemplating a life of prayer to God But in modern times some would argue that the vow of celibacy tests the monks' faith to its limits. Young Brother Michael knew what to expect when he joined the monastery, "I'd spent two and a half years already looking at the life, so I knew what I was getting into". "Also the vows are only for three years, which is a further preparation to see whether I want to make the final commitment to stay here for life." In time every monk at the abbey will end up in the monastery's communal coffin. The coffin comes out purely for funerals, and then is returned to the abbey's attic. For the monks being interred, this is not the end of their lives, but the beginning of a new spiritual journey that extends into the after life.

Mount St Bernard The Meaning of the Terms Nun, Sister, Monk, Priest, and Brother The Meaning of the Terms Nun, Sister, Monk, Priest, and Brother FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS Is there any difference between a nun and a sister? What about a monk are they priests or brothers? I have always been confused by these terms. These terms are indeed confusing, because they are often used interchangeably even though they have technical differences. First, let's look at the difference between nuns and sisters. A nun is a woman who belongs to a religious order and takes the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Their vows are publicly accepted by superiors in the name of the Church and solemn. In general, solemn vows are professed by members of religious orders after a period of temporary, simple vows. When bound by solemn vows, a woman is a nun but is commonly called "Sister" (although some orders use another formal title, like "Dame" or "Mother"); when bound by simple vows, a woman is a sister, not a nun, and thereby called "Sister." Nuns recite the Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office in common, and engage in some work to help support themselves.

Another distinguishing mark of nuns is that they live a contemplative, cloistered life in a monastery. "Cloistered" refers to living within the confines of the monastery behind the "papal enclosure." Nuns are permitted to leave the cloister only under special circumstances and with the proper permission. Moreover, visitors are not be permitted to enter into the cloistered area. When visiting these monasteries, like the Poor Clares' Monastery in Alexandria, a person may enter the public area of the chapel, but a wrought-iron screen separates it from the nun's side or "cloistered" side of the chapel. Also when visiting one of the nuns, the visitor is physically separated by a grill or other barrier from the nun who is in the cloister. Besides the Poor Clares, other strictly cloistered nuns are the Carmelites and Benedictines. In some cases, the cloister restrictions are not as strictly enforced. Some orders of nuns, while technically cloistered, conduct works of charity or education, interacting with the public. For example, the Visitation Sisters are technically cloistered nuns but teach school.

With this understanding of the term "nun," the title "Sister" denotes a woman religious under simple vows, who is a member of a particular religious congregation. (The distinction between a "solemn vow" and a "simple vow" is a determination made by the Church when the religious community is established: members of religious orders make a final profession of solemn vows, and members of religious institutes or religious congregations make a final profession of perpetual simple vows, after a period of temporary simple vows.) These women religious also take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience; live in community in a convent; and share in a particular apostolate. These religious congregations may serve either a particular diocese under the immediate jurisdiction of the local bishop, or serve throughout the universal Church under the immediate jurisdiction of the Pope. Examples of these communities are the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sisters of the Holy Cross, and Daughters of St. Paul.

Since the 6th century, monks and nuns following the Rule of Saint Benedict have been making the so-called Benedictine vow at their public profession of obedience (placing oneself under the direction of the abbot/abbess or prior/prioress), stability (committing oneself to a particular monastery), and "conversion of manners" (which includes forgoing private ownership and celibate chastity). A monk may be a priest or a deacon, who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or a religious brother, who is not ordained. Monks live in a monastery, the word from which "monk" is derived. Depending upon the circumstances of the particular order, they may have a very strict contemplative, cloistered lifestyle, like the Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance (commonly known as the Trappists), or a less strictly cloistered lifestyle, like the Benedictines. Just as an aside, these monasteries are referred to as abbeys when they are independent, self-sufficient, and have a certain number of monks or nuns. The head of the abbey is either the abbot or abbess.

Moreover, religious institutes or congregations of men include those of both priests and brothers, like the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, and those of only brothers, like the Brothers of the Sacred Heart or Brothers of St. Francis Xavier. These men religious also take the simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, live in community, and share in a particular apostolate, like education, health care, or other charitable work. While this article has dealt with the fine distinctions of terminology, we must not forget that these individuals have totally dedicated their lives to God; taken the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; serve the Church in special way; work for the salvation of the world; and strive for the perfection of charity in their own lives. They are an outstanding sign of the Church, and a witness to Jesus Christ. Acknowledgement Saunders, Rev. William. "The Meaning of the Terms Nun, Sister, Monk, Priest, and Brother." Arlington Catholic Herald. This article is reprinted with permission from Arlington Catholic Herald. The Author Father William Saunders is pastor of Our Lady of Hope parish in Potomac Falls, Virginia. He is dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College.

The above article is a "Straight Answers" column he wrote for the Arlington Catholic Herald. Father Saunders is the author of Straight Answers , a book based on 100 of his columns, and Straight Answers II . Monks | Define Monks at Dictionary.com See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com 1. brother. Monk, friar refer to members of special male groups whose lives are devoted to the service of the church, especially in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox denominations. A monk is properly a member of a monastery, under a superior; he is bound by a vow of stability, and is a co-owner of the community property of the monastery. Since the Reformation, monk and friar have been used as if they were the same. A friar is, however, strictly speaking, a member of a mendicant order, whose members are not attached to a monastery and own no community property. Dictionary.com Unabridged a variant spelling of (George) Monck Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for monks Expand monk n. Old English munuc "monk" (used also of women), from Proto-Germanic *muniko- (cf. Old Frisian munek, Middle Dutch monic, Old High German munih, Ger. Mönch), an early borrowing from Vulgar Latin *monicus (source of French moine, Spanish monje, Italian monaco), from Late Latin monachus "monk," originally "religious hermit," from Ecclesiastical Greek monakhos "monk," noun use of a classical Greek adjective meaning "solitary," from monos "alone" (see mono- ). For substitution of -o- for -u-, see come . In England, before the Reformation, the term was not applied to the members of the mendicant orders, who were always called friars. From the 16th c.

to the 19th c., however, it was usual to speak of the friars as a class of monks. In recent times the distinction between the terms has been carefully observed by well-informed writers. In French and Ger. the equivalent of monk is applied equally to 'monks' and 'friars.' [OED] Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Question: What is a name for the building where monks live and work?
Answer: Monastery