| Contact: Vocations Director Fr. Edward Crouzet OSB 4501 South Dakota Ave. NE Washington, DC 20017 202-269-2335 vocations@stanselms.org |
Capon Springs, WV
Many years ago a kind benefactor donated to the Abbey a one-storey house with surrounding land in the Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia, near the resort
of Capon Springs. The community uses it as a place of retreat and/or recreation.
These photos were taken in the fall of 2007. The man sitting near the open fire in the photo above is Fr Tyrrell Alles OSB, a monk from Sri Lanka, living with us in Washington, while he completes his PhD thesis on the New Testament. The pond in the photo below is part of the property.
Questions frequently askedabout monastic life:
What is a monk?
“Monk” derives from the Greek “monos” = alone. The monk lives as a single person lovingly committed to prayer, work, interaction with his community and with those whom it serves. He and his brother monks keep a certain distance from the everyday world in order to foster an inner SILENCE open to God’s Word.
Blaise Pascal (seventeenth century French Catholic thinker) once wrote: “All that is bad in the world stems from one thing: that a man is unable to remain alone in his room.” While seeking to acquire this ability, at the same time a monk shares a common life with his community and, as occasion demands, interacts with others outside it. [back]
Why does a monk spend so much time in prayer?
The common prayer of a monastic community (Opus Dei) forms the daily sacrifice of praise in which together we give back to almighty God in mind, heart and voice, gifts of life and love with which He endowed us in the first place.
A true sacrifice of praise requires that our minds and hearts be in tune with our voices. They are disciplined, therefore, by attentive READING of holy Scripture and theology (lectio divina) and by solitary PRAYER, in which we face up to our inmost desires.
Besides this inner discipline undertaken “in the cave of his heart”, the monk receives guidance in understanding the liturgy and training in its execution, especially in public reading, so as to be able to “edify those who are listening” (Rule), and in singing, because “singing is for one who loves” (St Augustine, quoted by General Instruction of the Roman Missal). Thus the daily sacrifice of praise becomes truly the work and expression of the community. [back]
How do you become a monk?
Benedictine monks always belong to one particular community. A monastic vocation involves being drawn to one such community and asking for admittance. Then there is an extended period of probation on both sides.
- The first step is to become acquainted with one or several communities by staying and sharing their life for a time as a GUEST. If one monastery seems more suitable or congenial than others, then it is right to go back and spend more time there.
- After several stays as a guest, a person may ask to embark on a period of anything up to a year as a POSTULANT.
- If this is seen by the abbot or prior and his council to have worked out, then he embarks on a one year period as a NOVICE. As a novice, he will be under the direction of a spiritual father who will guide him in his monastic formation.
- The novitiate year ends with SIMPLE PROFESSION for three years.
- After three years or longer, if necessary, in simple or temporary vows, a monk is free to make his SOLEMN PROFESSION.
Such is the official procedure. But it is by taking part in the communal prayer and tasks in the day to day routine that a postulant, novice or junior monk little by little discovers the demands, joys, and difficulties of monastic life. [back]
What are the main elements of monastic life at St. Anselm's?
All members of the community at St Anselm’s are involved in prayer and work, in other elements of the common life and in hospitality.
- PRAYER is undertaken by the whole community together early in the morning, at midday, in the early evening and at night. The daily community Mass is celebrated In the morning before those monks teaching in the School or University go off to work. Prayer also includes the spiritual reading and meditation undertaken by each monk individually on a daily basis.
- WORK is necessary in the first instance so that the monastery can be self-sufficient financially. Some monks of St Anselm’s are faculty members at the Catholic University of America. Others teach in the Abbey School. Some give retreats or do supply work in local convents and parishes. Artistic creation, woodcarving, stained glass work and icon painting have traditionally been forms of work at St Anselm’s. There is also an Abbey bookshop which is due for expansion.
- COMMON LIFE includes all the above, for even prayer undertaken individually is a contribution to the life of the monastery. Likewise the work of each monk contributes to the wellbeing of the whole community. There are in addition particular forms of service to the community which all undertake insofar as they are able, for example reading and serving in the refectory, taking turns at reading and intoning psalms in the Office, serving or presiding at Mass. Other responsibilities taken on by individual monks for the benefit of the community include those of prior, guestmaster, infirmarian, refectorian and choirmaster.
- HOSPITALITY. It is to be expected that guests and day visitors to a monastery situated in Washington DC will be many and varied. Community members are available to offer them friendly contact and, if they so desire, spiritual counseling. [back]