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One who has a Benedictine vocation believes that to him is addressed the Gospel invitation to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. "If anyone desires to come after me let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it" (Matt 16:24-25). Such a person does not think himself particularly virtuous, or worthy to become a monk; he is persuaded, often for no accountable reason, that God, from abundance of love and mercy, has called him to seek God only, by a life of constant union in a spirit of recollection, and by work done for one's brothers and sisters as a form of prayer in action. In order to attain this union with God and likeness to Christ, the candidate for a monastery is convinced that he must live his life in conformity with the Gospel precepts. He will also learn the truth that ultimate happiness can only be gained through humility, self-denial, obedience, patience and mutual charity. So he strives to give glory to God by becoming, at last, God-centered instead of self-centered.
To assist people to give this kind of glory to God, by becoming Christ-like, is why St. Benedict wrote his Rule, and why Benedictine monasteries exist. Benedict withdrew from the world to follow Christ wholeheartedly. Today, as in the past, Christ calls men to give up all things and follow Him.
The Church is in great need of men dedicated to the service of God and neighbor. If you believe that monastic life may be the life God wills for you, open the ear of your heart and run swiftly to follow the path of the Lord.
The discernment of a vocation to monastic life is not an easy project. It requires prayer, spiritual direction and quiet listening to the stirrings of the Spirit. We extend an invitation to all who are considering a vocation to the religious life and/or priesthood to visit us, share in our choral monastic liturgy, celebrate the Eucharist, and experience our fraternal life.
Is This Call For You?
Where are you now? Where are you going? How will you get there?
All you know is that you aren't satisfied. All you see ahead of you is more of the same. You know you need something more, something meaningful, something fulfilling.
The monks of the Monastery of St. Gregory the Great at Portsmouth Abbey have found an answer in the Rule of St. Benedict -- Ora et Labora -- prayer and work. Could it be the answer for you?
You are invited to experience a week of prayer, work, rest, and recreation with our monastic community as we conduct week-long Monastic Life Experience Programs for men 21-45 who wish to spend some time discerning a call to monastic life.
The programs, which can be scheduled to suit your availability, are "open-ended", meaning you may spend a few days or the entire week at the abbey. During your stay, you will be able to experience the life of the monks, including daily common prayer, spiritual reading, manual labor, a daily conference on some topic of monastic history or spirituality, as well as time for rest and exercise.
The Monastic Life Experience Program is a unique opportunity for you to familiarize yourself with monastic life and consider the possibility you may be called to such a life.
Anyone interested should contact:
Dom Ambrose Wolverton, O.S.B., Vocations Director
Portsmouth Abbey
285 Cory's Lane
Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871
401-683-2000
Email: fatherambrose@portsmouthabbey.org
You should also visit vocationsplacement.org, for further information on specific retreats at Portsmouth Abbey and other monasteries.
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