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 t takes a whole life-time to learn how to be a monk, to seek God. All his life a monk remains «in the school of the Lord’s service», retaking Saint Benedict’s words. All the same, he who enters monastic life goes through a training period of some five years before making his final vows. |
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 e who wishes to enter monastic life usually gets in touch with the Master of novices during a stay at the guest-house. He then has a real contact with monastic life by spending a few weeks in the novitiate. After which, he goes over the matter with the Master of novices to make a decision. |
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 hen this year of novitiate has ended, the one who seeks to pursue his intent officially asks the Abbot and his monks to be admitted. Once accepted, he makes his monastic vows for three years. After his profession, the newly professed remains another two years in the novitiate and under the Master of novices’ spiritual direction. |
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| e then renews his vows for good. During Mass the brother takes his vows in the presence of all, expressing the gift he is making of his person to Jesus Christ: vows of stability, conversion of life and obedience. He then signs the hand-written chart of his profession and deposits it on the altar. |
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Receive me Lord according to thy word and I will live, do not disappoint my hope.
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| The vow of stability :
By it the monk is bound to persevere in the monastery and to insert himself into the monastic community he has chosen.
The vow to convert one’s life :
The monk promises to make himself more like Christ every day. This vow includes implicitly the vows of chastity and poverty.
The vow of obedience :
Active and responsible obedience is practiced by the monk for the love of God. So, under the inspiration of the Spirit of love, the monk is in communion with the mystery of Christ, who was «obedient right to death, to death on the Cross» (Philippians 2,8).
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 fter profession, the monk is encouraged to continue his theological formation in the monastery. All monks are not priests : a monk may be ordained deacon and priest by the bishop of the diocese but that supposes his own calling, the needs of the community and Father Abbot’s call.
Benedictine life is a particular form of Christian life. It is lived in the Church in the imitation of Christ. To whom still seeks his way, prayer enables one to discern better the call of God.
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 he monastic habit is a sign that the monk is consecrated to God, that he has withdrawn from our ordinary social world, and that he has adopted a life of poverty in Christ. He has done away with the old man and put on the new man created in the image of God. |
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| The Benedictine monk’s habit is black and is composed of a tunic, a leather belt and a scapular (shorter for novices and postulants).
At work, he wears a different habit, one better adapted to physical activity.
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| When he pronounces his solemn vows, he is clothed with the cowl, which he dons for the celebration of the Eucharist and the Major Hours of the Divine Office.
The tonsure also signifies that the monk has abandoned civil life and chosen to follow Christ unreservedly.
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Information :
Tel. : 
(819) 843-4080 from 8:30 until 10:30 a.m. and from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m.
vocation@st-benoit-du-lac.com
nce admitted, the candidate begins his postulancy which lasts about a year, participating broadly in the life of the community. Through lectures and special reading, his faith is deepened and he comes in contact with the Benedictine tradition. Around a month after he enters, the postulant receives the monastic habit.
