To Be a Monk
An Essay on the Cistercian Vocation

  1. To Be a Man
  2. To Be A Christian
  3. Experience of the Divine
  4. Community Life
  5. Solitude
  6. The Word of God
  7. Fraternal Love
  8. Compassion and Humility
  9. To Be A Monk In Practice
  10. Signs of a Call to be a Monk
  11. The Monks of New Melleray
  12. Daily Monastic Schedule
  13. Entering New Melleray
  14. Entrance Procedure

So far we have been considering the beautiful ideals of Christian monastic life. Actual monks who are practicing monastic life toward these ideals are very imperfect. The difference between our ideals and our accomplishments is a perpetual embarrassment which perhaps even the reader knows from his own life. You will find monks acting selfishly, even though we strive for generosity. We are ordinary men. By our vows and customs we symbolize sincerity and fervor and yet we are often inauthentic and lukewarm. In our flowing white robes we appear angelic even at those times when, in fact, we fail to be human. All of us have our moments of pride and conceit.

We can sin. And, thank God, we can repent and make progress. Anyone called by God to become a monk with us must be able to pursue the high ideals we all have while putting up with the lowly reality we all are. Remember: compassion and humility! After all, we monks are only sinners, laboring in the initial stages of becoming Christian, hoping to become like God in Eternity.