Monks to the World

A common misconception about the monastic vocation is that all monks live a solitary life of silent prayer and meditation, tucked away from the concerns of the world. However, all vocations are a response to God's universal call to holiness, which means a life devoted to seeking and proclaiming in word and deed the Kingdom of God; in our personal live, our families, our communities, our work, our Church, and the world. 

Each Benedictine monastery lives the call to holiness according to the mission of their community.  The monks of Saint John's Abbey encompass the varieties of the monastic vocation. Living according to the Rule of Saint Benedict monks pray the Liturgy of the Hours as a community, and practice the ancient spiritual art of lectio divina. We celebrate daily Mass, give and receive spiritual direction, and spend time in solitude and retreat. But more still, we seek and proclaim the Kingdom of God to the world, and the community we share here in Minnesota. 

Our works of ministry, craftsmanship, education, administration, consultation, arts, and many others, bring the fruits of the monastic vocation to the world outside the monastery, and in community with the local and universal Church, the monastic community is nourished and informed by the fruits of the diocesan and lay vocations.

The lay church living and working around Saint John's is an important element of the wider Saint John's community. They join us for prayer, work with us, celebrate with us in good time, mourn with us in loss, and together we work to make a better world in what small and large ways we may, building each other in the call to holiness. 

Who are the Monks to the Local Communities?

Living Statio

Saint Benedict gave particular concern towards establishing a community and way of life free as possible from the entanglements, obligations, and burdens of the society from which he and his monks came. Thus, upon joining the monastic community, a man would give up the rank and authority of his former life, and assumed a rank in the community, equal to his brothers in Christ. Within the monastery, inherited family titles, wealth, and politics were no longer the guiding factor in the decision making and governing process in the monks lives, but rather the pursuit of God. 

A few elected positions and assignments described below represent leadership and authority within the monastic community, but otherwise, each man who enters the community is ranked just below the man who joined before him, and just above the man who joined after him. Yet, this is not to create a sense of superiority, but to note the length of time a monk as spent in search of God in fellowship with the community, recognizing the merit of their conversion and spiritual growth.

Monastic Leadership

THE ABBOT is the head of the monastery. He is elected by the voting members of the community (members who have made solemn vows.) Benedict writes in his rule for monasteries that the abbot "[...] is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery, since his is addressed by a title of Christ...Therefore the abbot must never teach or decree or command anything that would deviate from the Lord's instructions." (RB 2:2) Throughout the novitiate year (the monk's first year), the abbot teaches a series of classes on the Rule of Benedict. Within the monastery he presides over all of the major liturgical celebrations, and it is to the abbot that one makes one's vows.

THE PRIOR is selected by the abbot with counsel from the senior monks. The prior is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the monastery, from the needs of the monks within the retirement center, to operating budgets, to menus for major celebrations. Additionally, if the abbot is away from the monastery on business, the prior acts as the head of the community.

THE SUB-PRIOR is also selected by the abbot with counsel from the seniors. Should both the abbot and the prior be away then he is in charge of the monastery. Because Saint John's is a larger monastery the each of the three offices, the abbot, prior and sub-prior, serve as immediate superiors to different age groups within the community. But of course, the abbot remains the major superior to all of the community.

THE FORMATION DIRECTOR/NOVICE MASTER is often combined depending upon the numbers of men in his care. He is responsible for the education and immediate oversight of the men who have not made solemn vows—those who are still discerning the possibility of becoming a monk for life, from novices to junior monks. As the immediate superior to both novices and juniors, he, with the formation committee, oversees their spiritual development and vocation discernment

THE PROCURATOR or CELLARER  is another name for what we would refer to today as TREASURER. He is charged with keeping track of the abbey's finances—in Benedict's time—anything of any value. Today, this includes budgeting the upkeep income and expenses of the Abbey, as well as the funding of new construction and the renovation of existing structures.

THE VOCATION DIRECTOR is selected by the Abbot to guide vocation discerners through their exploration and study of Catholic vocations. He keeps track of all the vocation discerners, connects discerners with the best suited Vocation Guides, and provides recommendations to the Abbey Admissions Committee for applications for candidacy.