"Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ."

J.M.J.B.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, I was always aware of the Monks at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA. Our parish priests spoke very highly about the great men who wore the holy habit of St. Benedict and the work they did throughout the world. But for one reason or another, I never came in contact with the monks until I was 19 and on a retreat with my parish at St. Emma's Retreat House in Greensburg. There I had the privilege of listening to Benedictine Father Donald Raila and his powerful words and his authentic witness to monasticism left a profound impression on me. Two years later as I was entering my senior year in college, I finally made my first trip to the monastery although a vocation to the Benedictines was the last thing on my mind. Yet during my visit I was amazed at the beauty of the Archabbey Basilica and the prayerfulness of the monks. I actually was laughing to myself as I wrote this because my uncle asked me after the retreat about a vocation to the Benedictine way of life (he too spent a day at the monastery and was very impressed) but I said that I don't think I am called to the monastery, I think I am more Franciscan.

After my visit, I was heading back to New York to finish college and to discern a possible vocation with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. This time of discernment allowed me to work closely with Franciscan Father Benedict Groeschel as well as his wonderful community in the slums of New York City, specifically the South Bronx. During my time with the friars I had many chances to speak one on one with Father Groeschel about my life and where God was leading me. I kept bringing up the beauty of the life I saw at St. Vincent, even though I was still thinking about becoming a friar. He suggested that I take a close look at the monk's life and assured me that if I made a good prayerful vocation retreat with the community I would know if that was where God was leading me. He commented that he had given a number of retreats at the Archabbey and that he was truly impressed with the leadership of the community (Archabbot Douglas Nowicki) and the great potential of the young monks entering the community. My spiritual director at the time (also a Friar) informed me of a number of young men who had made contact with the Friars or with Father Groeschel and who decided that life at St. Vincent was what God was calling them too. These men included Fr. Boniface Hicks OSB, Br. Elijah Cirigliano OSB, and Fr. Shawn Matthew Anderson OSB. I was also impressed with the high praise that Father Groeschel and the Friars gave St. Vincent Seminary and its great reputation for forming holy and happy priests. Sure enough, after a few days at the monastery before the Blessed Sacrament, I knew that God was calling me to serve Him as a monk at St. Vincent.

My advice for anyone considering a vocation to the monastic life is to really give yourself to the Lord and His Blessed Mother in prayer. Meetings with a spiritual director (a trusted priest or religious friend) and good spiritual reading are key. I also feel that taking that first step (calling or writing to the vocation director and making a visit) goes a long way. Once you come to St. Vincent, you will get a pretty good sense of what this place is all about and I think you will find that Christ is our Life. Finally, the importance of obedience in answering the call; if you really think about it Christ calls us to, "Come and follow Me," and to do so we must be willing to obey his will in our lives and give ourselves totally to His service. May our Holy Father St. Benedict intercede for you and may our Glorious Blessed Lady embrace you as you discern the call to serve her Son!