DOUAI ABBEY

On becoming a monk

Is God calling you to the Benedictine Life?

  •    Seeking God
  •    Listening
  •    Lifelong commitment
  •    Community
  •    Prayer
  •    Ministry
  •    Work
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The Rule of St Benedict warns that the road to God is rough and hard, and that a monastery is not an easy option. The life at Douai is both demanding and challenging but it is also richly rewarding.

Visit

To start exploring the possibility that God is calling you to be monk
  • come and visit us, and share in our life and prayer
  • it is important to listen to God in prayer, and to seek the advice of others
  • the vocation director, Fr Alban Hood OSB, will help you in your search

Candidate

The next stage of the journey would be to come and stay for a few months and share in our life, prayer and work, so as to discern God's will for you.

Novice

If it is seen that you are truly seeking God, you would then be received as a novice.
A novice
  • lives in the novitiate area of the monastery
  • is under the leadership of the novice master
  • studies the Rule of St Benedict & the Constitutions of the English Congregation
  • learns about monastic history and tradition
  • spends time in lectio divina
 novice

Profession

prof After a year or more a novice may make make profession as a monk for three years, following which, if he wishes to continue and the community vote to accept him, he will make his profession for life.

The monk takes to vows of

  • Conversio Morum - the promise to be faithful to a lifelong journey of constantly seeking God in the monastic way of life.

  • Stability - the promise to remain a member of this community for life.

  • Obedience - the promise to listen for God's will and to surrender ourselves to him, expressed in obedience to the abbot and the other members of the community.

In the pictures on the left Br Christopher is seen lying on the funeral pall to show he is dead to the old life of self, reading his profession chart and signing it upon the altar.

After signing his vows on the altar the newly professed (picture on the right) sings

Suscipe me, Domine, secindum eloquium tuum et vivam;
et non confundas me ab expectatione mea.

Accept me, O Lord, according to your word, and I shall live;
and do not disappoint me in my hope. (Ps 119:116)

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prof
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'The Lord is here and is calling you'(Jn 11:28) 'Come and see' (Jn 1:39)

Men who believe that God is calling them to monastic life, are invited to contact the Vocation Director at Douai Abbey, Fr Alban Hood OSB, either by e-mail albanhoodosb@hotmail.co.uk or by post to Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks, RG7 5TQ

PRAYER OF ST BENEDICT

Lord God, you appointed St Benedict
to be a wise master
in the school of your service.
Give us the grace
to put your love before all else
and so to run with joy
in the way of your commandments.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Rule of St Benedict...


From the Prologue to the Rule of St Benedict:

  •    Listen my son to the teaching of your master and turn your heart to hear: willingly accept and effectively carry out the advice given by a loving father.

  •    Is there anyone here who yearns for life and desires to see good days? If you hear this and your answer is "I do", God then directs these words to you.

  •    This is addressed to you, whoever you are, if you are prepared to give up your own will and take up the strong and bright weapon of obedience in order to fight for the Lord Jesus, our true King.
Dedication Cross
The choir lectern at Douai
Click to read an article on the Prologue to the Rule by Br Christopher Greener OSB

Click to read an article on Benedictine Monasticism by the late Abbot Primate, Jerome Thissen OSB
Registered Charity No. 236962

revised 25/07/07 by GH

Webmaster, Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berks. RG7 5TQ
e-mail douaiweb@aol.com