Monk?

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.

I, Brother_______layman, promise stability, conversion of life, and obedience according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. Abbot, before God and His Saints, whose relics are venerated in this place called_______in the presence of the Reverend Father________, …

With these words the man who has been living as a monk throughout his years in the noviciate and juniorate, a period of time lasting, in most cases five years, vows himself to live for the rest of his life as a seeker after God above all. The irony is his days of searching are over, signed in his own hand just so.

Still, a seeker he is par excellence. In relinquishing the freedoms most of us hold dear, and taking on the yoke of obedience to rule and abbot, he is liberated from endless searching for “‘happiness”, for he has discovered it is in yielding to the Source of happiness, and seeking Him alone does he know real joy beyond any passing pleasure. He has found the Source, but like the mouth of an endless river, he has only begun his seeking…

This past Monday a young man named Br. Isaac vowed himself to the monastic life at the Abbey of the Genesee. I recommend a visit to their site to read about Isaac and his reflections on what it is to be a monk. Prayers for Br. Isaac and peace to you all.

There is also a very enlightening interview with Br. Isaac printed in the Catholic Courier of Rochester, NY, which is worthwhile checking out.