FREE 2007 Vision Guide - Just Released (Read About Publication Below)

Ten Reasons To Become A Benedictine Monk

Benedictine life is all about balance and values.

The values proposed offer a way and change of lifestyle and an investment in all that is holy and good. (See article Introduction to Benedictine Life and the Road to Holiness. Click on second box down, above in the right hand column of this webpage.)

1. ORA et LABORA: You have the opportunity to participate in the daily rhythm of PRAYER AND WORK. You are able to take pride in doing God's will and work;

2. STEWARDSHIP: You are able to live simply and wisely. You share resources. You are a caretaker of gifts given;

3. REVERENCE AND COMPASSION: You take care of the sick and elderly, including all people entrusted to you, especially members of the Benedictine family;

4. COMMUNITY: You are able to participate in the hallmark of monastic life. You support and challenge others to grow in Christ through encouragement, understanding, bonding, friendship, love, celebration, and family responsibility. You share all things, including yourself;

5. MODERATION AND BALANCE: You are able to practice these values in what, how you do and act in and outside of the Abbey, especially in dealing with the world;

6. SANCTUARY AND STABILITY: You are able to be countercultural, period. You are able to be steadfast and rooted, through both easy and tough times. You are always able to rely on faith and trust in God;

7. PRAYER: You are able to praise God through Divine Office on a daily basis as well as personal and contemplative prayer, in a reflective and silent environment. You are able to find the seat of wisdom by discovering the HOLY in the ordinary happenings of everyday life. You are able to live with a LISTENING heart;

8. MINISTRY: You are able to respond to the needs of others by the grace of prayer, giving totally beyond yourself;

9. HOSPITALITY: You are able to recognize Christ in others, no matter the color, race, or creed by welcoming those who come, are in need and are searching for peace and God. You are able to share your home, resources, Benedictine charism of prayer and peace with the world;

10. PEACE: You are able to be a person of harmony, living as a healer and nurturer with gentleness, care, and love. You are able to share your inner life of grace and peace.

Do You Want to Explore and Experience These Values and What It Is Like To Be A Benedictine Monk?

You are invited to consider a culture of gospel living and ministry in monastic life by making a visit and retreat in order to live as a discerning guest of a community seeking God together and attending daily to a life faithful to the values of St. Benedict.

Before proceeding, take a moment to view the new video on religious life.

Discerning a vocation is not done alone but rather with others and within the Church. St. Bernard offers an "intensive" vocation retreat program to help people like yourself who are in the process of discernment. Your 3-day visit is designed to help you better understand your calling to religious life and in particular, to St. Bernard Abbey.

Take One Step At A Time

Are you interested in monastic life and the priesthood? If you answered yes and are single, between the ages of 21 -50, who wonder:

--what Catholic religious life is like and what happens when you visit and "try it out" at St. Bernard Abbey as a vocation guest, and

--who think they might have a religious vocation to be a Catholic priest and monk?

Then take the next step to:

--schedule a free self-directed retreat;

--sign up for our next "Come and See" directed vocation retreat with conferences and discussion groups scheduled for October 5-7, 2007;

To obtain information on the Fall retreat program, click on "FALL VOCATION RETREAT ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE" in the right hand column of this webpage.

You can also take a Virtual Tour of the Abbey now.

Vision Guide, 2007

The Annual Religious Vocation Discernment Guide for 2007 is now available.

The most comprehensive resource for those interested in religious life is ready for distribution, FREE OF CHARGE.

This annual guide, published by the National Religious Vocation Conference and TrueQuest Communications, provides fresh and lively writing on prayer, discernment, religious life, and a list and index of male communities advertising in the guide.

Request your copy today by going to: Activities and Publications Checklist.