Vocations

A Benedictine monk is one who lives in a monastery as a member of a community of men who are seeking God through a life of prayer and work, with the Gospels as their guide and a way of life inspired by the Rule of St Benedict.

Their prayer is both the private prayer that the tranquillity of a place apart inspires, and community prayer at intervals throughout the day. To this public prayer the heritage of Gregorian chant contributes greatly.

Work is of various kinds, according to the needs of the community and the skills of the monks. Today as in earlier monastic centuries a holistic approach to life is appreciated so that manual skills, including artistic and craft work, find their place along with study and teaching.

Monks, like all Christians, share the responsibility of bringing the Gospel of Christ to the world. Their apostolate is one of witness and service. Monks give witness to the faith by their life of prayer and mutual charity and serve others by being open to receive all who come seeking their support.

St Benedict lived first as a solitary in Italy in the sixth century but attracted others to join him and for them wrote a Rule, a guide for living in community, which became one of the great spiritual classics. It has proved itself adaptable to the changing spiritual and cultural outlook of successive centuries and still provides the framework of community life in Benedictine monasteries throughout the world.

Glenstal Abbey is a Benedictine monastery situated on the borders of Counties Limerick and Tipperary. Those who feel called to join the community are invited to undertake a process of discernment beginning with short visits. These are followed by one or more periods of several weeks, involving experience of the way of life and guidance by members of the community. Candidates nowadays typically have finished studies and have had some work experience, so that the usual age of entry is from the mid-twenties onwards.

For further information please contact:: novicemaster@glenstal.org