Vocation
Monastic life is often stereotyped: the romantic picture of a hooded monk on a hill-top staring into the distance; the peaceful photo of a veiled nun quietly reading in a beautiful garden.
Such moments do happen – occasionally! – and the pace of life in a monastery does tend to be more gentle than outside.
Nuns and monks are real people, each with a very different temperament and background, who live together at very close quarters and who very quickly get to know each other’s idiosyncrasies and failings as well as each other’s virtues. It is said that the most challenging ascetical practice in a monastery is learning to live peaceably with the other members of the community!
Community life requires people to be willing and able to change and to be challenged in all sorts of unexpected ways and therefore the discernment process takes a long time before a life commitment is made.
The ‘enquirer’ is given time to taste the life before plunging in. Some come with the feeling that they may be being called to the monastic way of life; others come because they want to ‘take time out’ and get some grounding in the spiritual life before launching out into their career or family; yet others are simply curious and feel drawn to experience life in a monastery.
Once we are established in our new monastery we hope to be able to welcome "seekers" to share our life for a number of months, up to a year, to be "Alongsiders".
If you feel drawn to such a possibility, what should you do?
SLEEP ON IT !!! ~ and if you still feel the attraction, contact the Abbot and arrange to stay for a few days to meet, pray and work with the Community.
If that visit goes well a subsequent visit may be arranged. If, after two or three visits, you still feel drawn and the Community feels positive, you will be invited to identify a period when you can be free from work and other responsibilities to come and participate in the life of the monastery. Though the notional period may be from six months to a year, the commitment on both sides will be for a month at a time, renewable after a review each month.
Some basic requirements
- You should be between 20 and 50 years old.
- You should be single (including widowed or divorced) and free from family obligations. [Those who go on to test a vocation to the monastic life also need to be free from debt!]
- You should be in good physical and mental health. The Community must be assured that you can respond to the demands of close community living and contribute in practical ways to the running of the monastery.
- Since life in the monastery pre-supposes an attitude of obedience, you must be able to live with good will towards authority.
- Life in the monastery is celibate and largely spent ‘on site’. It is important that you take this into account as you ponder.
If, after a number of months as an Alongsider, you feel that you wish to explore further the possibility of testing a monastic vocation, and the Abbot and Community believe that you may have a monastic vocation, you may ask to become a ‘novice’. The novitiate lasts for between 20 months and four years. If all goes well, you may ask to be elected to Simple Profession for a period of three years ~ after which you may seek election to Solemn [or Life] Vows.
If you would like to take this further please contact Abbot Stuart at:
Mucknell Abbey, Mucknell Farm Lane, Stoulton, Worcs., WR7 4RB
or by emailing:
abbot@mucknellabbey.org.uk