Monk

A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. The word comes from the Greek monachos (μοναχός), commonly translated as a solitary person, and by convention almost always refers to men (while the term nun is more commonly used to refer to female monastics), although it may be applied to women as well.

Roman Catholic monks

In the Roman Catholic Church the process of becoming a monk is marked by several distinct stages, which may vary depending on the particular tradition, order, or monastery. A person requesting admission is known as a postulant. After a period of examination, during which they may live in the monastery without actually taking vows, they may be admitted as a novice. The novitiate may last for a number of years and include instruction in prayer and other subjects. After the novitiate, a monastic may pass through a series of temporary vows of increasing length (typically three to five years). Catholic monks call each other Brother unless ordained to the priesthood.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic Church - Order - Postulant - Vows - Novice - Prayer - Catholic

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Female monastics (nuns) in the Catholic church are called Sister, except for their superior, who is called Mother. The duties of a nun usually lie in the areas of religious education, nursing or charitable service.

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For Roman Catholics, Monasticism is essentially a lay vocation, and monks and nuns are not generally members of the clergy. However, since worship is a major part of the monastic life, there is a need for some monastics to be ordained. In several Western orders, there is a distinction between the choir monks (those who are or may become priests) and the lay brothers (who are occupied solely with manual labour and with the secular affairs of the monastery).

Related Topics:
Lay - Vocation - Clergy - Worship - Choir monk - Priest - Lay brother - Secular

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