“What do you seek?”

The first thing Jesus asked his first disciples and that is asked in a reception ceremony of a monastic candidate is “What do you seek?” It is basic to the monastic way of life, and all consecrated life in the Church. In Scripture they answer, “Where are you staying?” And He answers, “Come and see.” (See Jn 1:38) The beginning of a vocation to our community starts the same way.

The word vocation comes from the Latin word, vocare, which means “to call.” Jesus calls, often through us, and we answer. That is the way it has usually been from the beginning. (See Rom. 10:14-15) But we must respond with discernment. The word for discernment is diakria in Greek, and means to rightly divide good and evil, or truth from error. So we must discern our vocation, our call from Christ. And that takes prayer and loving help from others to be done well.

We are delighted to be of any assistance for those seeking to find out what that unique call is from Jesus for their lives regarding our way of life. While we desire to promote vocations and grow in numbers, we avoid what is popularly called “recruitment.” A vocation is ultimately the initiative of God and ordered to benefit the whole Church and the world, not just one community. It is our desire to assist serious and mature men and women in discovering that state in life where God is calling them to become holy and build up the Kingdom of God, whether in our community, or at times somewhere else. While we are rooted within the rich tradition of the monastic life of the Church, our way of life aims towards something that is adventurous in the Spirit and new. And those who follow our way of life as Brothers and Sister of Charity must be ready to pioneer a monastic life that is at once both ancient and new in Christ and the Church. It is not for the faint of heart! It takes discernment. And we are ready to help you with that process!

Actionable Steps of Discernment

We teach that there are five major steps in discerning God’s will after hearing what we believe to voice or feeling the impetus of the Holy Spirit through deep prayer:

1) Is it objectively supported by Scripture and Sacred Tradition?

2) Is it objectively supported by the teaching of the Church?

3) Is it pastorally supported by our spiritual director or priest/pastor?

4) Is it supported by our spiritual friends in Christian charity?

5) Does it bear good spiritual fruit in your life?

To carry out this discernment it is good to:

1) Find a good spiritual director knowledgeable in monastic life and consult them regularly.

2) Study the word of God in Sacred Scripture, Apostolic Tradition, and the teaching of the saints.

3) Make a visit or pilgrimage to a monastery or two.

4) Come and visit the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery.

5) Build an ongoing relationship with the Vocation Director of a community that seems a good fit for you.

6) The courageously make a decision and follow the call of Jesus!

Formation Process

A person doesn’t just show up sight unseen at Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery, though that did happen for a few months at the very beginning. While we are open to the searching process and it’s fine to just be curious, we are interested in those who are serious! We want those who are, as desert Father Evagrius Ponticus once said, ready to “Renounce all to gain everything,” or to be “Separated from all to be united with all.”  We welcome those who are ready to give up everything to follow Jesus Christ under a spiritual father or mother in a radical, but not fanatical, integrated monastic community. Is that you? If so, there is a process used to discern the work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s call to join our community. These are the stages:

Candidacy
This is a time to, as Jesus said, “Come and see” by making one or more visits to the Monastery. We prefer our candidates to be under the age of 30. While we can begin working with enquirers as early as 17 or 18, they cannot formally become full members at that age. Enquirers must be debt free, in good health, unmarried, and have finished High School and earned a bachelor’s degree college (or an educational equivalent)). Enquirers can use this part of the process to get their affairs in order if it is discerned, they should proceed to the next step.

Postulancy
This 6-months-to-1-year period allows an interested person to come and live the life of the community, but without being a formal member. It is a time for both the community and the individual to “postulate,” to “pose a question.” During this time, we consider whether the general community life is a good fit all the way around. The individual is clothed in the Postulant’s habit, or garment, that is distinct from that of the rest of the community. Then they live the daily and weekly schedule of prayer, work, meals, fellowship, and ministry.

Novitiate
The Novitiate is a 1-to-2-year period in which the individual is received into the community as a novice member on probationary status and without making the profession of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They are clothed with the monastic habit of the novice and hold all things in common with the community. If celibate monastics, they may have personal possessions kept by a family member or friend but cannot use them; anything they earn goes to the community. The novice may be dismissed if it becomes apparent that our way of life isn’t working out, but not too easily. They are also free to leave.

Temporary Profession
This is a 3-to-6-year period in which the monastic professes poverty, chastity and obedience for the first time. For the celibate monk or sister this means: no personal possessions of any kind, celibate chastity, and obedience to community as their primary family on earth. Single and family monastics may hold some possessions and are free to marry under specific policies and guidelines. Temporary Profession comes in 3-year increments, and can be repeated once, or even twice for extraordinary reasons. These professions can only be dispensed for a grave reason.

Permanent Profession
After temporary profession, a person can make a permanent profession of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the community. This is for life and is therefore most serious. During the ceermony they are placed under the funeral pall to signify a complete death to their old life. They come forth a completely new person in Christ and the community with a whole new spiritual father, mother, and family. Then they receive the full prayer shawl, or cowl, the sign of full membership. In a culture where permanent commitment isn’t encouraged or taken seriously, and is rarely completed if made, this act is countercultural and prophetic. Not only joys but trials are part of the commitment. They come and go. And the spiritual rewards in keeping our commitment are beyond compare in Christ.

It is the way of the saints. It can be your way too!