Consider what Saint Benedict says to those who are about to begin life in a monastic community.  This wisdom from our Holy Father Saint Benedict outlines the entire process of monastic formation that begins  with tentative visits, extended discernment and ends with a lifetime of conversion.  Monastic formation is a lifelong process of becoming more and more like Christ, in the Holy Spirit and  for the glory of God, Our Father. Listen then with the ear of your heart to the words of our Master:

"Therefore we intend to establish a school for the Lord's service. In drawing up its regulations, we hope  to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome. The good of all concerned, however, may prompt us to a little strictness  in order to amend faults and to safeguard love. Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that  leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset. But as we progress in this way of life and in faith,  we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.  Never swerving from his instructions then, but faithfully observing his teaching in the monastery until death, we shall  through patience share in the sufferings of Christ, that we may deserve also to share in his kingdom." (Prologue: 45-50).

Vocation Discernment

Those who begin the process of vocational discernment provide the monastic community with information about  themselves by submitting the Guidance Summary Form. The personal information in the summary will enable us to make the invitation to  “come and see.” Just as Saint John relates that Jesus invited his first two disciples to “come and see”  in response to their question, "Master where do you live?" This initial contact leads to a gradual opening up of  the mystery of God's call in our lives.

FIRST STEPS: 1. Initial Visit—short interview with Vocation Director, followed by an invitation to prayer and a meal.  2. Short Visit—after further review and prayer, the seeker may be invited to come and stay for a few days,  meeting more monks and tasting the rhythm of the monastic schedule.

APPLICATION PROCESS: 1. Discernment Visit—after further prayer and dialogue, the seeker comes to visit for another  longer stay—after interviews with the monastic leaders the seeker may be taken for the necessary psychological evaluation. With input from all these interviews, the community may discern that it would like to continue the application process, or the community  may counsel the seeker to find another monastic community or another style of religious community.  2. Information and Recommendations are gathered and submitted to the Vocation Director. These become part of the presentation  made to the monastic chapter, which then votes on the applicant. The Vocation Director informs the applicant about the decision  of the monastic chapter.

PREPARATION VISIT: After being voted into the Novitiate, the candidate then comes to make final preparations for his first year in the monastery.  The candidate is measured for the monastic habit and informed about any final preparations necessary for entrance into the novitiate.

Those accepted as novices for the Benedictine life at Saint Vincent Archabbey spend their first full year, July to the following July,  in the novitiate. For Saint Benedict, the meaning of the novitiate year is quite simple, yet touches the depth of the human heart:  "The concern must be whether the novice truly seeks God and whether he shows eagerness for the Work of God, for obedience and for trials.  The novice should be clearly told all the hardships and difficulties that will lead him to God." (58: 7-8). Living the monastic life,  as a year of discernment the Novice Monk shares the communal life with his fellow novices and the entire Archabbey community.  During an entire year under the inspiration and care of the Novice Master, the Novices discover what it means to “seek God”  as a monk in this monastery. Through a regular routine of prayer, study, work and recreation, the novices come to know The Lord and the monks  in The Lord. After one half year, the Novice Master reports on the progress of each novice to the monastic chapter and at the end of the year,  the Master enables the novice to discern whether or not to be presented for the vote of the monastic chapter. Once this discernment year  is complete, the novice becomes a monk in temporary vows and continues his formation in the Juniorate under the guidance of the Junior Master.

Monastic Formation During Temporary Vows

Upon completion of the novitiate, the monk is reborn in Christ by the profession of his monastic vows. This conformity to the mystery of Christ is nurtured within the entire monastic community and more specifically within the juniorate community. For at least three years of simple vows, the junior monk spends time growing in the likeness of Christ by seeking to live a life of perfect love by obedience and by stability. During this juniorate experience, the monk has ample oppurtunity to grow in relationship with the wider community by working  with and sharing life with the solemnly professed monks. Nevertheless, the wonder of a conversion begun in novitiate is given  ample time consideration by the process of the annual renewal of vows and by the program of spiritual growth dedicated by the junior master. At the end of this stage of formation, the junior monk is invited to take Solemn Vows. After the evaluation of the Archabbot, Junior Master, and the Small Chapter, the junior monk is presented for the vote of the monastic chapter. Upon acceptance of the petition for permanent monastic consecration, the junior monk becomes a senior monk and continues his formation by faithful involvement in the monastic life of work, prayer, and recreation.