Monastic life is a life under vows. These are promises
we make to God for our whole life and we can really
only make them because we are able to trust in God’s
love and his faithfulness to us. A monk makes a promise
of his life by promising three things: stability,
obedience and conversatio morum.
This is a promise to stand firm in our discipleship
of Christ, and not to run away from the challenge
of monastic life. By this promise we undertake to
persevere in a particular community, as the place
where we hope to find our path to God. The monastic
community may move if need be, but we always remain
members of the same community. A monk may live away
from the monastery, but that is in order to carry
out some work of the community he has been given. As
in a family, our job does not mean that we cease
to be a member of our monastic community.
Jesus was utterly obedient to his heavenly Father.
In the same way, we have learnt that we can do what
God wants of us by being monks. So we promise to
obey the Rule of St Benedict and the Abbot. Jesus
was obedient even to the extent of giving his life
for the salvation of all people. In the same way
we hope to live for others, and to share with all
the hope of eternal life Christ promises us.
This vow has a Latin name. It basically refers to
living 'a monastic way of life'. But that means more
than just a set of things to do. It means developing
monastic instincts, monastic virtues. As an exterior
thing, it includes a commitment to celibacy (not
to marry), sharing of goods in a simple lifestyle
(poverty), prayer and all that goes to make up the
monastic routine. But monastic life is more than
a routine. As an interior thing conversatio morum is
about giving our hearts, souls and bodies to God,
growing in his service, so that he can perfect us
in his love.
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