The Vocational Process

The inquirer should thoughtfully and completely fill out a discerner information form and return it to the Vocation Director. (The form may be submitted online or printed out and mailed.) The Vocation Director will review the form and contact you todiscuss your vocation.

If the Vocation Director thinks it is clear that you should consider our community, an initial visit of about five days will be arranged. During this first visit there is time to discuss one’s faith life and sense of calling as well as to experience a bit of our life. Afterwards, if the Vocation Director believes it to be prudent, a second visit of approximately two weeks may be scheduled. On this visit, the inquirer follows the life of the community - attending the liturgy, joining us in our work and participating in formation classes.

During this visit, the Vocation Director will meet with the candidate and discuss deeper issues of faith and human development. Although these meetings might be difficult, as many aspects of the candidate’s personal life will come to surface, the candidate is urged to be completely honest and trusting. It is only in this way that a genuine call from God can be discerned. If after the second visit both the candidate and the community feel that this man may be called to the monastic life at Spring Bank, a further visit may be arranged or, in some cases, a date may be set for his official entry as a postulant.

Postulancy lasts for about six months, after which it is decided whether the postulant is to go on to the year-long novitiate. At this time he is clothed in the novice’s habit and begins his official formation consisting of classes in Biblical exegesis, Latin and chant, monastic spirituality, and the Rule of St. Benedict. At the end of the novitiate, the community votes on whether the candidate should proceed to simple vows lasting three years. The simple professed receives the black scapular and usually begins his theology studies. Even those monks not called to Holy Orders are normally required to follow at least a one-year course of philosophy and theology.

After three years in simple vows, the community and the simple professed himself decide if he is ready to make solemn vows and bind himself to the community for life. At this time, he receives the monastic cowl, and becomes a full member of the abbey chapter. The new monk usually finishes whatever studies he needs, and if called to Holy Orders is ordained to the diaconate, and later the priesthood.

After a monk has finished with studies and is in solemn vows he usually is given a permanent job in the community. This can be a variety of things - clerical work, building and land maintenance, librarian, cantor - whatever the community may need at that time. Of course, the new monk’s natural talents and dispositions are taken into account. But, most important of all, at this time the new monk really becomes a monk - dedicating his life totally to God within the monastic traditions of the community, prayer, work and study.

Requirements

Candidates for Spring Bank Abbey should have completed some higher education and/or have some work experience. Although we do not have a strict age limit per se, candidates should generally be between the ages of twenty and forty. As our prayer life is centered in the Liturgy of the Hours sung to Gregorian chant, a candidate should have some vocal ability with an aptitude for further voice study. He also should be in good physical and psychological health, with a complete physical required prior to postulancy. Although Spring Bank does not require outside psychological testing, the candidate can expect frank discussions with the Vocation Director on his life experiences and mental state. Of course, exceptions can be made for minor problems (both physical and psychological) that would in no way impede a person’s future life as a monk. A candidate should have a mature faith life. He should be honest and accepting of his sexuality and already living the virtues of a celibate life. He must be willing to adapt to the customs and regulations of the community and be tolerant and open to the various personalities and backgrounds of its members. Above all, he must realize that the monastic life is a School of the Lord’s Service and a School of Charity. Being a monk is a series of life-long lessons, and there is always a new virtue to be learned, another vice to be purged. With the help of God’s Grace, a monk may hope to succeed in imitating Christ fully, following Him to the Cross, and rising with Him to eternal life. At this time, the Cistercian Abbey is only accepting international vocational candidates from Canada and Mexico.