What is this ‘conversion of life’, in latin conversatio morum, mentioned in the monk’s formula of profession (see June 18, below), which Br. Isaac just committed himself to for the rest of his life? The meaning of the phrase can be intuited from the words themselves, this is obvious. On it’s face it means what it says, to turn from one way of living to another way of living. But what does that mean?

‘Conversion of life’ is a twofold act of turning from sin and towards Christ. But isn’t this what every Christian does through his Baptism and the working out of its implications in his life? Yes, absolutely! There is no difference fundamentally between what the Christian takes on as his goal in life and what the monk does in his life.

Monastic life is a particularly radical response, you could say countercultural; it aims at the root of life, at its heart, its core. Br. Isaac and all the monks at Genesee and throughout the world who, responding to a personal call, vow this ‘conversion of life’, promise to follow Christ in this particular place, with these brothers, under obedience to this abbot and his successors, using all the means the monastic life provides for his journey.

Isaac and all his monastic brothers and sisters freely choose to live at the margins of society, bypassing its legitimate joys and pleasures for the sake of the Kingdom. the monk’s profession is a public act, a seal and a testimony, that for him there is nothing he prefers to the love of God and to the Kingdom He promises. On this he stakes his whole life.

There is so much more to say about ‘conversion of life’, but I’m going to let St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the great Cistercian saint, have the last word.

Our way of life is rejection by men. It is humility, voluntary poverty, obedience, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit. Our way of life is subjection to a teacher, to an abbot, to a rule, to discipline. Our way of life is to apply oneself to silence, to practice fasting, vigils, prayer, manual work, and above all to hold on to the more excellent way which is charity, advancing in all these observances from day to day persevering in them until the last day.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Letter 142.